Interesting coincidence, or is your smartphone listening to you?

from JoeUser Forums

 

We’ve seen in the past that Barbie dolls (the interactive sort) and Amazon’s Echo listen to you even when you aren’t aware they are. Of course, Mattel and Amazon tell you that all information passed on is “depersonalized” and not at all invasive.

Now, makeuseof has noticed around the web, people are seeing ads suddenly appear which seem to be linked to conversations they had when their smartphones are being used for messaging or conversations. They deny having “googled” about the topic of the add involved.

The author noticed this…but also a bunch of shows he never watches after leaving his phone at his mother’s house.

This led the author to ask the question in the title:

“It does seem as though this is something more than coincidence. But can it be proven that smartphone mics are being used to collect data and target appropriate content at users?” – makeuseof

Well, Google and facebook deny all accusations.

So…have any of you folks noticed this behavior on your phones?

Source:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/your-smartphone-listening-or-coincidence/

122,086 views 34 replies
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I don't see ads on my phone, but then, I mostly only use it as a phone.

Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Jim...you'd have to open a browser to see this happen, if indeed it happens.

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

A bit unrelated, but nonetheless still as disconcerting, I have an old iPhone 4s that I let the service expire on. I use it for my appointment book with work, to listen to music, and to occasionally text my wife through my home wifi. I took out the sim card after the service expired, I only turn the wifi on when I"m going to use it so it's off 90% of the time like it was this morning. All of a sudden, out of the blue, I get an amber alert on my phone, at exactly the same time as my wife gets one on her cell phone... How is that even possible? Somehow, either Apple lies about the wifi being off or the "authorities" are able to turn on my wifi to push me that alert. It has truly stumped me how this could have happened... I don't think of myself as paranoid but I'm starting to get there... :)

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Avatar137...I can't explain how that might happen unless there are wifi channels the Police can broadcast over which you can't disable on your old iPhone?

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Avatar137, reply 4

All of a sudden, out of the blue, I get an amber alert on my phone, at exactly the same time as my wife gets one on her cell phone... How is that even possible?
End of Avatar137's quote

They used SMS prior to 2012 but since then emergency alerts are broadcast by FEMA on a dedicated frequency from cell towers to all compatible devices in range, whether they are registered for service or not. Think of it as the digital equivalent of weather radio.

 

http://www.ctia.org/your-wireless-life/consumer-tips/wireless-emergency-alerts

 

Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top

I guess we can hope that's a one-way channel.  ;P

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

what is a phone?

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 3

Jim...you'd have to open a browser to see this happen, if indeed it happens.
End of DrJBHL's quote

Yeah, I know. That's why I said I mostly only use my phone as a phone.

 

I do actually open Chrome occasionally, maybe once or twice a month. Haven't seen any ads.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I get amber alerts every once in a while. Myself, my wife, and some guy in the walmart parking lot all got one at the same time one night.

Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top

I kinda hope my smart phone listens to me....cos if it doesn't it won't know what to pass on to the other person on the end of 'the phone line'.

Cos if that's the case I just as well could leave it off...and talk to myself...;)

Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 11

I just as well could leave it off...and talk to myself...
End of Jafo's quote

Like that'll ever happen. :|

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 11

talk to myself
End of Jafo's quote

You know what that is the first sign of, talking to yourself.... and being you have an insanity that's well entrenched, from long, long ago, we're well beyond the 1st, 2nd and 3rd signs and into those that haven't been so well documented as yet

Yup, Freud and his lot would have been perplexed by your brand of lunacy.  They should have shifted focus from Lewis Caroll before it went viral, me thinks.

:-" :D O:)

 

Reply #14 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting kryo, reply 6


Quoting Avatar137,
reply 4

All of a sudden, out of the blue, I get an amber alert on my phone, at exactly the same time as my wife gets one on her cell phone... How is that even possible?



They used SMS prior to 2012 but since then emergency alerts are broadcast by FEMA on a dedicated frequency from cell towers to all compatible devices in range, whether they are registered for service or not. Think of it as the digital equivalent of weather radio.

 

http://www.ctia.org/your-wireless-life/consumer-tips/wireless-emergency-alerts

 

End of kryo's quote

 

Ah, thanks for the info, kyro, didn't realize the antennas were AM/FM type that would work without the sim card installed or wifi being on... that makes sense. Really surprised me! I also got this response over at the iFans site:

Sent through the carrier most likely. So long as your phone's radio antennas are working, government services that go through the cell phone system will still work (like 911, amber alerts, etc.). It is technically a good thing to have 911 service on your phone, even when not in service IMO. If you really want to disable it, turn on airplane mode, then turn on wifi (if you want wifi).
End of quote

 

Thanks for the replies and sorry for the divergent tangent there doc!

 

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Avatar137, reply 14

Thanks for the replies and sorry for the divergent tangent there doc!
End of Avatar137's quote

No reason to apologize at all, Avatar137. ;)

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

2of3 can you send me one of those tinfoil hats, I've lost mine!!! ;)

Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

The truth is that Apple is listening to you, and this time, they're not thinking about privacy. }:)

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Borg999, reply 18

The truth is that Apple is listening to you, and this time, they're not thinking about privacy. }:)
End of Borg999's quote

I doubt that it's just Apple.  Given to corporate clamour to collect everybody's last dollar, it's reasonable to think that Microsoft and others are doing it as well.  I mean, why wouldn't manufacturers and telcos eavesdrop to collar more sales, corral more bucks?

If one uses their phone primarily as a phone, which I do - and as a MP# player sometimes - I think... well hope that you're reasonably safe, given that it's an offence to tap/listen into phone conversations without a warrant.   I think it's when users turn to various apps as a means of communication, like through Facebook and the various messenger apps, is when the big corporates know they can eavesdrop with impunity.... after all those communications are not covered by the same kind of legislation as phone communications are.

Yup: "Look, we'll give you all these wonderful new apps on your phone that will do all sorts of wonderful things for you... what you don't know is that you'll sacrifice your privacy and security by using them."

I think that about covers it.

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Borg999, reply 18

The truth is that Apple is listening to you, and this time, they're not thinking about privacy. }:)
End of Borg999's quote

I doubt that it's just Apple.  Given the corporate clamour to collect everybody's last dollar, it's reasonable to think that Microsoft and others are doing it as well.  I mean, why wouldn't manufacturers and telcos eavesdrop to collar more sales, corral more bucks?

If one uses their phone primarily as a phone, which I do - and as a MP3 player sometimes - I think... well hope that you're reasonably safe, given that it's an offence to tap/listen into phone conversations without a warrant.   I think it's when users turn to various apps as a means of communication, like through Facebook and the various messenger apps, is when the big corporates know they can eavesdrop with impunity.... after all those communications are not covered by the same kind of legislation as phone communications are.

Yup: "Look, we'll give you all these wonderful new apps on your phone that will do all sorts of wonderful things for you... what you don't know is that you'll sacrifice your privacy and security by using them."

I think that about covers it.

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 11

I kinda hope my smart phone listens to me....cos if it doesn't it won't know what to pass on to the other person on the end of 'the phone line'.

Cos if that's the case I just as well could leave it off...and talk to myself...;)
End of Jafo's quote

 

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

:rofl: ......I know how that feels. 

Reply #23 from Sins Forums Top

The barrier on listening to everyone 24/7 is that it's a colossal waste of bandwidth and monitoring resources, never mind that it's illegal.  The cost probably far outweighs any monetary pick me up they'd get from selling whatever information they managed to glean before someone discovered the invasion and the company went bankrupt from the resulting class action lawsuit while the executives all went to prison.

 

Are they data mining the messaging service?  Quite possible.  If someone's going to hear you having sex because your phone is in the same room, it's either the NSA doing it, or there's a major criminal case in someone's future.

Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting psychoak, reply 23

If someone's going to hear you having sex because your phone is in the same room
End of psychoak's quote

In my case that'd be a major waste of bandwidth.... given how many years they'd be waiting. :grin:

Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting psychoak, reply 23

The barrier on listening to everyone 24/7 is that it's a colossal waste of bandwidth and monitoring resources, never mind that it's illegal.  The cost probably far outweighs any monetary pick me up they'd get from selling whatever information they managed to glean before someone discovered the invasion and the company went bankrupt from the resulting class action lawsuit while the executives all went to prison.

 

Are they data mining the messaging service?  Quite possible.  If someone's going to hear you having sex because your phone is in the same room, it's either the NSA doing it, or there's a major criminal case in someone's future.
End of psychoak's quote

 

Substantial Resources? A few servers pulling key words and matching it with an advertiser. That's fairly low cost compared to potential ad revenue, -  and executives only go to prison in extreme circumstances. Most are able to hide behind the corporate veil, or at worst go to a minimum security prison for 6 months. And the corp might pay a de-minimis fine and write it off as a cost of doing business. Then do it again in 6 months.