US-based companies MindSift and Cox Media Group (CMG) have publicly acknowledged that they monitor users through their cellphone microphones. 404 Media broke the news on December 14.
Understand more: Safe Cell Phone: GOV.BR launches app to combat cell phone theft and robbery
Highlights
- MindSift and CMG take on the practice of monitoring users via device microphones.
- Justification: understanding the content to target personalized advertising.
- CMG calls the practice “Active Listening,” identifying consumers from real-time conversations.
These companies claim that they do this to “understand” the content of conversations and target ads more accurately. CMG has labeled this strategy as “Active Listening,” a technique that can identify consumers “from casual conversations in real time.” The practice was conducted through microphones installed in smartphones, smart TVs, and other devices.
CMG even stated on its website: “What would it mean for your business if you could reach potential customers who are actively discussing the need for your services in their everyday conversations? No, this isn’t an episode of Black Mirror — it’s voice data, and CMG has the resources to use it to your advantage.”
However, the company deleted the page after contacting 404 Media.
“Black Mirror” is a TV series that satirizes the relationship between society and technology. CMG’s reference, in fact, may be related to the episode “Joan is Terrible,” in which a streaming company reproduces situations from the character Joan’s life.
MindSift, finally, also made a similar statement. Two of the company's three founders revealed on the “Real Business Roundtable” podcast that the company's technology listens to users' conversations.
However, MindSift vice president Andy Galeshahi commented: “I’ll say, like, ‘Hey, have you ever said something and seen an ad for it?’ We’re the guys. We’re the ones. We’re the ones who distribute the technology, which has been with us for a while, but the torch has been passed.”
MindSift's website, as per, confirms that they perform this listening through voice data analysis technology from millions of devices.
However, according to 404 Media, MindSift revealed that “it is possible to know exactly when someone is in the market for virtually any product or service in real time, which gives the sales company a significant advantage over the competition.
See also: Suspects Can Refuse to Give Cell Phone Password to Police in the US
How to protect your privacy
Both Google (responsible for Android) and Apple (owner of the iPhone) allow users to disable microphone access for some applications.
On Android system:
- Swipe down from the top of the screen twice;
- Tap the camera or microphone block to disable access to them;
- If the blocks aren't there, tap Edit or Add at the bottom of Quick Settings;
- Tap and drag the tile to add it to Quick Settings.
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings and click on Privacy and Security;
- Tap a hardware feature, such as Camera, Bluetooth, LAN, or Microphone.
Both systems indicate when an app is using the camera or microphone. On Android, a green icon appears at the top of the screen. On iOS, the green icon means the camera is in use and the orange icon means the microphone.
Read now: 7 Cell Phone Options to Buy This Christmas: Prices, Features, and Smart Choices
