“What would it mean for your business if you could target potential clients who are actively discussing their need for your services in their day-to-day conversations? No, it's not a Black Mirror episode—it's Voice Data, and CMG has the capabilities to use it to your business advantage.”

A marketing team within media giant Cox Media Group (CMG) claims it has the capability to listen to ambient conversations of consumers through embedded microphones in smartphones, smart TVs, and other devices to gather data and use it to target ads, according to a review of CMG marketing materials by 404 Media and details from a pitch given to an outside marketing professional. Called “Active Listening,” CMG claims the capability can identify potential customers “based on casual conversations in real time.”

  • LollerCorleoneOP
    8•1 year ago

    You are generalizing too much here. I know many who have tried out a product only after seeing its ad. Ads can give plenty of returns to brands. But targeted ads which even exploits our most intimate conversations are really bad news for our right to privacy.

    • @[email protected]English
      3•1 year ago

      Ive absolutely bought shit that ended up as an embedded ad after I visited the page previously. Youre just more likely to follow through if you see it over and over again.

      Its not really a complex concept.

      • nevernevermore
        5•1 year ago

        I said “I’ve never met a person”… then “every human being I know”. Does that count as generalizing?

        generalize | ˈdʒɛn(ə)rəlʌɪz | verb | 1 make a general or broad statement by inferring from specific cases

        Literally, yes.

          • nevernevermore
            6•1 year ago

            so then your argument is companies are wasting money because you and your circle aren’t affected by advertising? how big is your circle that companies should fear not appealling to it?