Many mobile phone users have long expressed concerns about being tapped. Now a leak suggests that not only have these fears been entirely justified, but by all accounts we are being passively eavesdropped on by our 'smart technology' even when we are not actively using it. it, for example when the phone is in your pocket or on the table next to you.
In what appears to be a pitch deck (visual presentation) from one of Facebook's marketing partners - Cox Media Group (CMG), it openly describes, among other things, how the company actively eavesdrops on users' conversations to then use these when creating targeted adverts.
The leaked slideshow shows that CMG's so-called "Active-Listening" software uses artificial intelligence to collect and analyse users' data in real time, by listening to what they say on their phones, laptops or home assistant microphones.
"Advertisers can pair this voice data with behavioural data to target consumers in the market", they write in the presentation.
Facebook, Google and Amazon are listed as customers of CMG, which is also interpreted to mean that they can use the service to eavesdrop on their users. The presentation was first leaked to reporters at 404 MediaAfter the scandal broke, Google also removed the media group from the homepage of its "Partner Programme".
Tech giants deny
To the British Daily Mail claims a spokesperson for Meta (Facebook's owner) that they "not using your phone's microphone for adverts" and claims to have been clear about this for years.
"We are trying to reach CMG to get them to clarify that their programme is not based on Meta data", it is further argued.
Amazon also denies that it has co-operated with CMG to eavesdrop on its users and states that it has no plans to do so.
According to the leaked slideshow, it describes how the software can use virtually any microphone-equipped device to listen to and record consumers' voice data. It is not yet clear whether it listens to the user constantly or only when the microphone is activated - for example, during a call.
This data is then reportedly used by advertisers to target "consumers in the market" - people who are considering buying a particular product or service.
Concerns confirmed
If the interviewee has talked about buying something, adverts for this will also appear on different platforms - for example, you may suddenly start seeing a lot of adverts for a brand of car you have never seen before.
"Once launched, the technology automatically analyses your website traffic and customers to continuously improve targeting", says the presentation.
The leak thus seems to confirm concerns expressed by a growing number of people that their mobile phones are "listening to them", and that they can clearly notice more adverts for a particular product after talking about it with a friend or family member.
Meta has consistently denied that it intercepts its users' conversations and that these would in any way influence which ads appear in the feed - a claim that many are sceptical about.
It should also be noted that the "Active-Listening" technology and what it can be used for was revealed in late 2023. At around the same time, it was also revealed how representatives of the AI marketing company MindSift bragged in a podcast about how they used smart device speakers for targeted ads.
Circumventing legislation with difficult-to-read user agreements
CMG is based in Atlanta, Georgia and last year generated revenues of a whopping $22 billion. At the same time, according to the company, their software is completely legal.
the mobile phone is not actively used"When a new app is downloaded or updated and consumers are asked to include a multi-page user agreement somewhere in the fine print, Active Listening is often included", it declared in a blog post last November, which was later deleted.
This could explain how the company has so far been able to continue its operations even in states with wiretapping laws that prohibit anyone from being recorded against their knowledge.
Swedish company responds with privacy-protected mobiles
For those who are tired of the systematic invasion of privacy, there are currently flexible solutions.
Swedish technology company Teuton Systems is among the first in the world to offer truly privacy-proof yet user-friendly technology for ordinary mobile users, and earlier this year launched its new flagship smart phone "Matrix".
The mobile is based on the groundbreaking GrapheneOS operating system, which adds to the user experience is described by customers as "very similar" to a standard Samsung or iPhone mobile phone, but with significantly higher security and fewer redundant and monitoring apps pre-installed.
- Most people are surprised by how easy it is to switch, if you are used to, for example, a Samsung mobile, as our mobiles have traditional interfaces that you recognise, tells us Mattias at Teuton Systems customer service.
Beyond the new generation of mobiles offers they also provide laptops and desktops with a modern and user-friendly interface based on the Linux operating system.
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