Hey there, have you heard about the latest scandal involving Cox Media Group? It seems they’ve been caught red-handed with a leaked pitch deck outlining their plans to eavesdrop on users’ devices for targeted ads.
Shocking Revelation: Cox Media Group’s Plan to Spy on Users for Ads
Rumors are swirling about media giant Cox Media Group (CMG) pitching a controversial idea to potential buyers – listening in on users’ conversations for targeted advertising.
According to 404 Media, a leaked pitch deck from the company reveals their scheme to stealthily monitor users through their device microphones to tailor ads.
This isn’t the first time CMG has come under fire for its ‘active listening’ tactics, as reported back in 2023. Despite previous backlash, it appears CMG is pressing on with its invasive ad strategy.
Recent insights from Gizmodo shed light on CMG’s ‘active listening’ program, which covertly records user conversations via nearby device microphones. By analyzing this data with AI, CMG identifies potential customers based on specific keywords for advertisers.
Using this data, CMG can create targeted audience lists within designated areas to display relevant ads to users.
Tech Giants Disavow CMG’s ‘Active Listening’ Program
To bolster their pitch deck (available here), CMG claimed partnerships with tech titans like Google, Amazon, and Meta. However, all three companies have refuted any association with CMG.
Google confirmed ending a previous partnership with CMG due to policy violations, stating, “All advertisers must comply with all applicable laws and regulations as well as our Google Ads policies.”
Amazon Ads has never worked with CMG on this program and has no plans to do so.
Meta vaguely addressed their connection with CMG but clarified they were not partners in the ad targeting scheme.
We don’t have any comment. But just to clarify, the pitch deck in the article lists Meta as a general marketing partner, not as a partner ‘in this program.’
CMG has yet to address the controversy surrounding their ‘active listening’ program.
What are your thoughts on this invasive ad tactic? Share your opinions in the comments below.
