You might be among the many people who believe the conversations they have near their smartphones lead to seeing ads online related to products or services they might have discussed with others in real life. Or you might know people who think that.
Smartphones Eavesdropping On What You Say Might Be Real
The conspiracy theory will probably never go away, even though most iPhone and Android devices can’t actually spy on you. They have built-in privacy protections that will show you when and if your handset’s microphone is in use.
Smartphones Eavesdropping On What You Say Might Be Real
That said, there’s a brand new report you should check out. A marketing company claims in now-deleted marketing materials that it uses AI to eavesdrop on people speaking near devices such as smartphones, smart speakers, and smart TVs. AI is involved in the process, which results in more accurate targeting than traditional methods of tracking user interests online.
Smartphones Eavesdropping On What You Say Might Be Real
Considering the current tech landscape, these are very wild claims, and I’d be inclined to believe the marketing company in question is simply exaggerating its abilities. Either that or something more nefarious is afoot, especially with other types of smart devices mentioned.
Smartphones Eavesdropping On What You Say Might Be Real
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Smartphones Eavesdropping On What You Say Might Be Real
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Smartphones Eavesdropping On What You Say Might Be Real
Can smartphones eavesdrop?
I don’t think that any marketing company can use ad tech to spy on modern smartphones. The iPhone has protections against that, and I find it unlikely for a marketing company’s software to beat that. The newest Android phones also show microphone access. And I’d be equally surprised if a marketing company’s software can bypass this security.
I will point out that voice assistants on iPhone and Android are always listening for your voice input. But they’re listening for…
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