The company’s presentation revealed that its software captures voice data in real time.

Since the advent of targeted advertising on websites and social media, many theories have circulated that smartphones and other devices, including tablets and laptops, actively listen to users’ conversations in order to offer them personalized advertising. A new report has now confirmed these long-standing suspicions.

Accordingly 404 media, Cox Media Group, a marketing company whose clients include Facebook and Google, has privately admitted that it listens to users’ smartphone microphones and then places ads based on the information it collects. The television and radio news group admitted in a pitch deck to investors that its “active listening” software uses artificial intelligence to “capture real-time intent data by listening to our conversations.”

Also read | How to choose the right laptop: step-by-step guide

“Advertisers can combine this voice data with behavioral data to target consumers in the market,” the company wrote in its pitch deck.

“Consumers leave a data trail based on their conversations and online behavior,” and the AI-powered software collects and analyzes said “behavioral and voice data from over 470 sources,” CMG noted in the deck.

Google removed CMG from its “Partner Program” website after being asked by 404 Media for comment on the matter.

“All advertisers must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, as well as our Google Ads policies. If we identify ads or advertisers that violate these policies, we will take appropriate action,” a Google spokesperson said. The post.