Cox Media Group Claims 'Active Listening' Tech Can Eavesdrop for Targeted Ads

The company asserts the practice is legal and based on user consent, but details on data gathering remain unclear.

Cox Media Group (CMG) has claimed that it can use 'Active Listening' technology to eavesdrop on consumers' conversations through their smart devices, such as smartphones and smart TVs, to gather data for targeted advertising.
CMG's marketing materials suggest that this technology can identify potential customers based on their day-to-day conversations, allowing businesses to target their advertising more accurately.
The company asserts that this practice is legal, as consumers typically give consent for their devices to listen to them when they accept the terms and conditions of software updates or app downloads.
It remains unclear whether this technology is currently in use, and CMG has not provided details on how the data is gathered.
Following media coverage, CMG has removed the pages detailing 'Active Listening' from its website.