Cox Media Group's AI Software Spies on User Conversations for Targeted Ads

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Cox Media Group admitted using AI-powered 'Active Listening' software to eavesdrop on smartphone conversations, targeting ads based on captured data. This practice, involving major clients like Meta, Google, and Amazon, raises significant privacy concerns due to unauthorized surveillance and data collection without user consent.[AI generated]

Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?

CMG’s Active-Listening software is an AI system in use (not just a theoretical risk) that allegedly records and analyzes sensitive voice data without clear user consent. This directly breaches users’ privacy rights, a fundamental human right, to deliver targeted ads—qualifying as an AI Incident under violations of human rights/privacy obligations.[AI generated]
AI principles
Privacy & data governanceTransparency & explainabilityRespect of human rightsAccountabilityDemocracy & human autonomy
Industries
Media, social platforms, and marketingDigital security
Affected stakeholders
General public
Harm types
Human or fundamental rightsReputationalPsychological
Severity
AI incident
Business function:
Marketing and advertisement
AI system task:
Recognition/object detectionOrganisation/recommenders

Articles about this incident or hazard

Law Enforcement Today

2024-09-06
Law Enforcement Today