They are spying on everything you do and say
They are spying on everything you do and say
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For years, many of us had a sneaking suspicion that our digital devices were being used to eavesdrop on us.
It’s not so long ago that you would be mocked and laughed at, if you ventured into the Twighlight Zone and told your friends that you suspected your television was spying on you or that simple home appliances were eavesdropping on your communications.
But.. You don’t have to be Joe Britt from that famous episode of the Twighlight Zone to be paranoid about technology reading your mind and responding to your thoughts.
Shocking leak suggests your phone really is listening in on your conversations | Daily Mail Online https://t.co/LgwffoezQU
— Andi 🌸🌸🌸 (@peachypuk) September 3, 2024
Who’s laughing now?
At Bugginout, we’re dedicated to helping you protect your privacy and this latest leak reveals just how important it is to stay vigilant, because new evidence suggests these “conspiracy theories” might not be so far-fetched after all.
Recently, a pitch deck from one of Facebook’s marketing partners was leaked, providing a glimpse into how our conversations might be used to create targeted ads. Cox Media Group (CMG), a major player in the digital marketing world appears to be using ‘Active Listening’ software to tap into your phone, laptop or home assistant microphones. According to the leaked documents, this software collects and analyses what you say in real-time, pairing it with your behaviour online to serve up eerily precise ads.
These revelations raise serious questions about how companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon are using this technology. The pitch deck even lists these tech giants as potential clients of CMG’s Active Listening service, suggesting they might be cashing in on what you say.
Since this story broke, Google has removed CMG from their ‘Partners Program’ webpage, but the damage is done.
What does it mean?
So, what does this mean for you? It means that your phone, laptop or any device with a microphone could be spying on you. The software’s six-step process, as outlined in the leak, captures and analyses voice data from any microphone equipped device. It’s unclear whether this eavesdropping is happening all the time or just when your mic is activated, like during a phone call. Either way, the result is the same… They are spying on everything you do and say.
Ever wondered why, after chatting with a friend about buying something, you start seeing ads for that exact thing? This was brought up on a recent Joe Rogan podcast by Rogan himself after speaking to a friend and then receiving targeted ads for the exact thing they were discussing in private.
For years, users of smart devices have suspected they’re being listened to but tech companies like Meta have flat out denied it. Meta’s privacy page even claims, “We’re not listening to your conversations.” Yet, this leak is just the latest in a growing body of evidence suggesting otherwise.
The truth is, this kind of Active Listening is legal, as CMG claimed in a now deleted blog post. Hidden within the fine print of those lengthy terms of service agreements you quickly scroll through, you might be unknowingly giving companies like CMG permission to listen in on your most intimate thoughts….
Take a look at the video below to understand the severity of the problem.
Protect yourself
At Bugginout, we believe it’s crucial to stay informed and take steps to protect yourself. Whether it’s through securing your devices, using encrypted communication methods or simply being aware of what permissions you’re granting.
There are ways to keep prying ears and eyes at bay but it’s getting increasingly difficult. The digital world is constantly evolving and so are the methods used to invade your privacy. I’ll cover methods on how you can protect yourself in an upcoming article and in our Evade section but in the meantime.
Stay safe, stay alert and remember: They are spying on everything you do and say