Senator Marsha Blackburn has sent letters to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Daniel York, president and CEO of marketing firm Cox Media Group, inquiring if they are coordinating with the top marketing firm to “actively listen” to Americans’ phone calls and use that information to place ads. Blackburn (R-Tenn.) sent these letters after a recent Post report alleged an invasion of smartphone users’ privacy by technology and media companies.
The senator cited concerns about consumer privacy in the virtual space, noting how many consumers have long suspected that technology and media companies are violating their privacy for profit by marketing products based on keywords or phrases from private conversations. Blackburn demanded a slide deck from Cox Media presenting its “Active Listening” software, which uses artificial intelligence to capture real-time intent data by listening to conversations, as first reported by 404 Media.
The deck revealed that consumers leave a data trail based on their conversations and online behavior, with AI-powered software collecting and analyzing behavioral and voice data from over 470 sources. Meta and Google are both clients of Cox Media Group, according to the slideshow.
Meta stated that they do not use phone microphones for ads and have been public about this fact for years. The company is reaching out to CMG to clarify that their program is not based on Meta data. Google has removed CMG from its “Partners Program” website and emphasized that advertisers must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, as well as Google Ads policies.
However, Blackburn was unsatisfied with these statements, pointing out how both companies have previously faced scrutiny for privacy issues. She called for answers by Oct. 8 regarding company CEOs’ awareness of the “active listening” software, whether consumers were notified, and how the companies police ad firms that may be taking advantage of sensitive user data.
Reps for Meta, Google, and Cox Media Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Senator Blackburn and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have pushed for internet privacy legislation, such as the Kids Online Safety Act, which provides safeguards for minors on social media platforms from harmful content.
