Phones are listening: Facebook partner admits eavesdropping

You may have often heard or even participated in conversations about the alleged eavesdropping by phones for marketing purposes. One of Facebook's marketing partners openly admits to eavesdropping on users' conversations.

You talk about buying wireless headphones, and then you start seeing ads for such products all over the internet. You shouldn't be surprised if a similar situation has happened to you. As reported on MSPowerUser.com, "active listening" technologies are in use, and we consent to their use without hesitation.

Information about "active listening" comes from a leak from Cox Media Group, a marketing partner of brands like Facebook. We learn from them that AI listens to and analyzes phone conversations. It processes voice data so that, combined with behavioral data, it can identify a group of people who are "ready to buy."

This data is collected and matched to services and products that should interest users, such as those within a certain distance from a venue. This way, digital advertising can be targeted, and website traffic can be analyzed.

MSPowerUser emphasizes that CMG has been excluded from Google's partner program. This is because the legality of practices like eavesdropping on users is questionable, though in practice, we agree to it.

The clause about consent to eavesdropping is often found in user licenses. MSPowerUser claims that in 2003, a post on the Cox Media Group blog stated that the whole practice is legal. Is this legal at all? The short answer is: yes. Phones and other devices can legally listen to you.

"When a new app download or update prompts consumers with a multi-page terms of use agreement somewhere in the fine print, Active Listening is often included." Such a clause was purportedly found in the mentioned post. It seems, then, that we are powerless against such practices unless we give up on a particular application.