Smartphones are listening to us according to a partner of Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta

Have you ever felt as if your smartphone or other similar smart device was eavesdropping on you because something you discussed privately was suddenly thrown in your face as an advertisement? This does not appear to be a coincidence at all, since a leaked sales pitch deck from a prominent advertising media agency appears to validate such assumptions.

404 Media got the alleged deck belonging to Cox Media Group (CMG), a digital marketing business that has collaborated with Google, Facebook's Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon.

According to the sales pitch document (published November 2023) CMG presented to the aforementioned big tech behemoth, the technology used to monitor and actively listen is known as "Voice Data," and CMG openly claims "Yes, Our Phones are Listening to US" in a section explaining how businesses can use that data to efficiently target advertisements. It reads:

In most moments of the day, there's a smart device in within two-inch radius of us.

That means a smart device is likely within earshot when we talk about our plans for the weekend, how badly we need our kitchen remodeled, or which SUV model is best for the family with our spouse, and so much more.

When small businesses know who needs them, they can target ads with enhanced accuracy, waste less money, and grow their audience.

Down below, there is even another part that doubles down on that same idea and blatantly brags about it, with no apparent regard for users' consent or privacy:

Don't Just Know What They're Searching For- Know What They're Talking About

It may seem like black magic, but it's not-it's AI. The growing ability to access microphone data on devices like smartphones and tablets enables our technology partner to aggregate and analyze voice data during pre-purchase conversations.

The result? Unprecented understanding of consumer behaviour, so we can deliver personalized ads that make your target audience think: wow, they must be a mind reader.

Cox Media Group's deck also contends that snooping is completely lawful because smart devices and assistants must always listen. Google appears to have terminated connections with CMG sometime after this news aired, according to 404 Media.