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.”
I buy things by doing independent research of multiple items, looking at reviews and comparing what’s left. For more mundane things like milk, I read the packaging to confirm who produces and distributes it with the intent to buy as local and independent as possible. Or, at a minimum, the least worst option.
None of this takes that much time. It’s kinda crazy to me that people just buy stuff without caring about the details. At this point if I see an ad for something, I assume it’s a piece of shit or is gonna steal my data in some form.