Questions are always raised about whether smart phones Able to spy on us and listen to what we say without our knowledge. In fact, this has not been proven yet. But in this article, we will prove that the microphones in our smartphones are actually used to record everything we say for marketing purposes and target us with ads related to our conversations.
Phones are spying on us
Cox Media Group (CMG), which owns a consortium of media platforms, was offering its advertiser clients an advertising platform called Active Listening, which would serve ads based on conversations you had within “hearing range” of your phone’s microphone, according to a report from 404 Media.
For example, you might tell your wife (near your phone) that you are thinking of buying a new car or maybe planning a vacation to the Maldives, then ads for cars or even the best islands for a happy vacation will appear when you use Your smartphone In the next few days.
Of course, the service provided by Cox Media Group is very important and logical for advertisers. Because they prefer to spend their money on targeted ads that bring them a quick return.
How are you being spied on?
In order for its eavesdropping service to work effectively, the company uses artificial intelligence to capture conversations that can be used to find products that the phone owner might be interested in buying right away. As an advertiser, you can’t find a more qualified pool of buyers than those who say they need your product ASAP.
To prove that Active Listening is real and is being offered to advertisers, a presentation prepared by CMG for investors was leaked. In the presentation, the company admits to using AI to capture intent data (information that shows a person is interested in making a potential purchase) in real time by listening to people’s conversations on their smartphones.
The leaked presentation suggests that companies like Google, Amazon, and Facebook are CMG clients. When contacted by 404 Media, the companies denied the claims. Meta, Facebook’s parent company, said it was reviewing its partnership with CMG to see if it was violating users’ privacy. Google kicked CMG out of its advertising partner program after it violated its terms of service. Amazon said it had never participated in the Active Listening program.
Finally, of course, using our phones to spy on us and eavesdrop on what we say is a gross violation of our privacy. But what you don’t know, my friend, is that it is completely legal. Because when you download an application, you don’t read the policy and terms of use, which are long and boring. But if you look closely, you will find that most applications may use active listening. So if you are being eavesdropped on using your smartphone, it is because you agreed to it without knowing it. And thus, these companies escape legal accountability.
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The programs may be an interface or a hacker, and not all that I discovered is what it recorded, but it listens to everything around you, even the surrounding sounds. What if it was combined with image recognition?
Then the issue of not sharing but keeping it on your phone may create a security loophole through which privacy can leak even if it is closed in the future.
Hello Phone Islam! 😊 There is no doubt that privacy issues are one of the most important challenges in the world of modern technology. You raise an important point about how programs can be exploited to breach privacy. However, we should always remember that companies like Apple attach great importance to protecting users' privacy. Apple is one of the most committed companies to protecting users' data by encrypting information and not sharing it with others. 🍏🔒
Hi
About the idea of reading the terms and privacy of the application, I was thinking about it and I know what it means to ask for permission and such.
As for spying, it is legal as stated in the article.
But what I'm thinking about is an idea that's almost old, I mean, before the development of artificial intelligence began, I mean, how many spies are there for all people to fulfill their desires?
This means that the phone displays the advertisement, of course it requires understanding and programming.
At this time we say receiving the artificial intelligence but before how
The most important thing is that privacy is disabled because I don’t use the site much, nor even the GPS and microphone. I only give it permission within the application.
The important thing is that they talked about buying a palace or owning a state or something like that, in addition to flying. Hahaha.
Hi Mohammed, 🙋♂️
I understand your point of view in the comment, artificial intelligence is indeed used to improve the user experience and target ads more effectively. However, these tools and programs can only be used with the user's permission according to the privacy policy that is agreed upon when installing the application. 😊📱👍
As for privacy, if it is disabled on the site, this is due to your personal choices in using applications and devices. 😌🔐
Additionally, it is always important to read the privacy policy before using any new app or service. 😉📜
Thanks for sharing! 🙏💬
The report did not mention the targeted platform, Apple, Android, or both!
No but luckily I don't have a cellular data plan on my phone I rely on landline at home and they surf the internet when needed then I turn on airplane mode especially at bedtime!
Let's not forget the noise application in Apple devices. When washing hands, the sound is always recorded, even though I have it activated. However, I have relative confidence in Apple!
Hi Mohammed🍏Jassim, the report is about smartphones in general, not just Apple or Android. But don't worry, using fixed internet at home and activating airplane mode while sleeping is a good step to protect your privacy. 🕵️♂️ And yes, the noise app on Apple devices records the sound of hand washing, but it is only used to remind the user to wash their hands well and is not sent to Apple's servers. 🙌🏼🧼 Your trust in Apple is a great thing! 🍎💚
Do you know this feature? I also heard that this feature is considered spying. I don’t know if this is true or not. It is the important locations feature. The iPhone records any place I go to.
Such as the workplace or school, the solution is to press Clear History and disable the Important Locations feature, which also drains the battery.
Hello world of iOS and technology 📱🌍! Yes, your iPhone tracks the locations you visit frequently as part of its “Significant Locations” service. This service helps improve recommendations and services provided to you. However, if it worries you, you can actually turn it off and delete the recorded data. Go to “Settings,” then “Privacy,” then “Location Services,” then “Services System,” and finally “Significant Places.” Here you can clear your history or turn off the service entirely. This service is not usually referred to as “spying,” because the data is stored on your device only and is not shared with Apple or third parties. So, relax and smile 😄👍🏼
Any device connected to the Internet can be used for spying or monitoring.
Dear Saleh 😊, Unfortunately, devices connected to the Internet may be vulnerable to spying or monitoring. However, these risks can be reduced through security updates and maintaining the privacy of your data. 📱🔒
I expect that Facebook and TikTok are participating in the service, but Google does not need it. If it used it, YouTube ads would improve.
Welcome Arkan, 🙋♂️ It seems you've dug deep into things! Actually, we don't have any confirmed information about Facebook or TikTok's participation in the Active Listening service. As for Google, CMG has already been kicked out of its partner program. So, it's likely that Google is not part of this service. 🕵️♂️🍎
Welcome to Thursday, this is what we were missing. Our cell phones are spying on us. Honestly, it's very scary.
Hi Abdullah! 😊 Indeed, it may be scary at first but don't worry, it has been confirmed that these practices are legal and under the supervision of the competent authorities. Most importantly, you can always control your privacy through your device settings. 📱🔒
These are their phones and their technology, and just because we use them and pay for them doesn't mean we have any rights over them. End of text
Can an app on the iPhone use the microphone to spy without the orange microphone use sign lighting up?
May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you. If we say that the phone is spying on its users, what is the problem? Let it spy, what do I say or do? And besides, disabling the microphone disables the Siri listening feature and disables the entire microphone.
Hello Sultan Mohammed 🙋♂️, you are right, disabling the microphone may disable some important features such as Siri. But remember, security and privacy are a priority. If you are not worried about spying, then there is no problem with that. Otherwise, you can follow steps to secure your privacy without affecting important services. 📱🔒
I always see ads on google for something I talked about on my phone. Unfortunately there is no way out.
Dear Ali 🙋♂️, unfortunately this is true but you can control the permissions you give to apps through your phone settings. Always make sure to read the terms of service before installing any new apps, even if they are long and boring 😅.
The report is 100% correct.
All smartphone users are a commodity.
Their speech, their path, and everything related to consumer behavior are being eavesdropped on and spied on.
For you, stranger
And amazing
Article Title: Recent Study
While the matter is 7 years or a little more
Regards for the collection
Mr. Mazen Kazara
I am sure, not just a belief, that they are eavesdropping. To the point that when I noticed the type of ads, I agreed with my wife to talk about baby diapers (and we don't have any children - the kids are grown up) and the surprise was BOOM! Baby diaper ads started appearing in abundance. My important question, which I hope will not be ignored: Is there a way to disable this feature on the iPhone? And if there is a way, what is it?
Hi Sajid 🙋♂️, Your topic is very interesting! To disable this feature on iPhone, you can follow these steps: Go to “Settings” then “Privacy” then “Microphone”. Here you will find a list of all the apps that use the microphone. You can disable microphone access for any app you want. Also, make sure to read the terms and privacy policies of the apps before installing them. Hope this helps! 📱😊
The biggest evidence of this is that when you say “Hey Siri,” the phone responds to you.
This means that the phone is listening to you all the time, analyzing your speech and understanding what you are saying, waiting for the magic word.
So what's wrong with advertising companies taking advantage of that too?
Hello Dr. Ahmed El Sayed 🙋♂️
Indeed, it may seem that “Hey Siri” is listening to us around the clock, but in reality, this feature works at the processor level and only listens to the trigger word “Hey Siri”. As for exploitation by advertising companies, Apple attaches great importance to user privacy and does not share such data with third parties. 🍏🔐 Things are not as easy as some people think!
Yes, I think he is really eavesdropping on me. I often talk about something with my friends or my wife and ads appear to me within days. I talked about a topic that is completely unrelated to my interests, such as buying a private jet, and of course ads appear to me offering a private jet rental service.
Hi Mufleh 😎, It looks like you're living in a spy movie! But honestly, this phenomenon may be just a coincidence or a result of your normal browsing on the Internet. This topic is still controversial and there is no conclusive evidence that the iPhone uses the microphone to spy. Enjoy your private flight 😄✈️!
No need to lie, no privacy, nothing. Everything is monitored and known, even the conversation and even the places we go to.
We visit it, look for it, or are near it.