Companies assume they are listening to cell phone conversations to target ads

The feeling that we are heard all the time and that this is the basis of the advertisements that reach us through our mobile phones may not be so crazy after all.

Although some consider this idea a huge conspiracy theory, reality proves exactly the opposite.

the press we In recent days, the discovery that marketing companies admitted to accessing mobile phone microphones for data collection and direct advertising has had repercussions. In detail: All of this without prior permission from the user.

One of the participating companies is part of the Cox Media Group and operates this service called “Escuta Ativa”.

Aside from it, representatives from another company, MindShift, also spoke openly about the topic in the podcast.

Focus on the task

Be careful what you say around your cell phone, it could be being monitored – Source: Internet/Cloning

The service provided by these companies focuses on Distribution of advertisements For so-called “ready buyers,” people who talk on their mobile phones about a product they want to buy or obtain.

The procedure consists, in real time, of promoting advertisements and promotions, especially on social networks such as Instagram and Facebook, of the same items mentioned by the owner of the device.

It is impossible not to be amazed when you see this mechanism in practice. The technology used for this is kept secret by the companies involved.

In the USA, reports have discovered, for example, the service being adopted by a luxury car dealership, a property rental company, an NGO and a home repair service provider, i.e. different sectors.

Small and large companies

During the podcast interview, MindShift representatives explained that the voice recognition technology will be provided by a long-term partner. Moreover, the functionality is already applied to both small and large companies.

The process is so personalized that anyone who hires the advertising service can limit the scope of audio detections and display ads.

There is even a tracking pixel that is added to the site to provide exposure and reach metrics.

Another interesting aspect is that this practice will not be limited to mobile phones. It also has the potential to be used in smart assistants, such as AlexaAnd on television. In other words: monitoring is ongoing.

How to protect yourself

This discovery, of course, constitutes a huge scandal, because it highlights the lack of security and lack of protection of private data.

In Brazil, for example, the General Data Protection Law (LGPD) prohibits the use of information without the permission of the citizen.

However, the possibility of remotely listening to what is being said near mobile phones proves somewhat frightening, as the user has little alternative to respond.

To protect yourself from this type of situation, often the only way out is to put the device away or turn it off. On mobile phones Android that it iPhoneIt is possible to control the use of the microphone using an application installed on the device. It is worth paying attention to this.

The systems typically issues notifications when the feature is activated and the user receives alerts when the microphone is on outside of usage times.

Another solution is to pay attention to the privacy policies of devices and applications in general. It is important to know which preferences control or restrict what is heard and stored for each solution. If you disagree with or doubt something, stop using it.