Have you ever been talking about something and suddenly saw ads about the same topic on your site? cell phone? For a long time, many people thought this was just an urban legend, but now the truth has come to light. Two digital marketing companies in the US have been caught doing this.
Amazing ability to “actively listen”
Hey 404 mediaAn American website revealed that these companies claim to have the technology to listen to your conversations in real time through your cell phone's microphone, and on top of that, they sell this data to advertisers.
CMG case
The first of them, Cox Media Group (CMG), is a big name in the field of Internet and digital marketing in the United States of America. They had a service called “Active listening”.
The CMG website itself stated: “And the truth. Your devices are listening to you. Through active listening, CMG can now use audio data to target your ads to the specific people you are looking for“.
CMG even provided examples of how this technology could be used: “Imagine if you could target customers or potential consumers who use terms like these in their everyday conversations,” with phrases like “A pickup truck would be perfect for us” or “This air conditioner is about to fail.” ” They promised personalized ads that would make consumers believe companies were reading their minds.
CMG also highlighted The legality of this practiceNoting that it is legal because users generally agree to accept the terms and conditions of the programs and applications. This usually happens with long contracts that we rarely read before clicking accept.
MindSift case
It wasn't just CMG. MindSift, another marketing company, also participated. “Have you ever been talking about something, and then saw an ad for it,” company co-founder Andy Gallishahi said on a podcast. It's us. We distribute this technology.” They claimed to have access to the microphones of millions of devices.
How do you protect yourself?
This revelation indicates that listening to conversations has already become a reality in the world of digital marketing. To protect yourself, it is recommended to check app permissions on your phone.
- on androidgo to Settings => Apps and analyze the permissions of each app.
- On iPhoneGo to Settings => Privacy Security and review the App Privacy Report.
These findings show the importance of paying attention to the permissions we give our devices and how companies can use them to understand and influence our consumer behavior.
Edward Langley is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current affairs and developing stories. His work highlights issues, trends and events that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance and accessible journalism.