Senator Marsha Blackburn is investigating whether Meta and Google are working with large marketing companies to “actively listen in” on Americans’ phone calls and use that information to target ads, The Washington Post exclusively revealed.
Sen. Blackburn (R-Tenn.) on Tuesday sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Daniel York, president and CEO of marketing company Cox Media Group, citing a Washington Post report from earlier this month about the alleged violations of smartphone users’ privacy.
“Consumers have long expressed concerns about privacy in the virtual space and how their data may be misused,” she said in her letter to York.
Senator Marsha Blackburn is investigating whether Meta and Google are working with large marketing companies to “actively listen” to Americans’ phone calls and use that information to target ads. Reuters
“If true, these reports confirm long-held suspicions of many consumers that technology and media companies are invading their privacy for profit by selling products that closely mirror the keywords and phrases of our private conversations.”
Blackburn requested Cox Media provide a presentation deck presented to investors touting 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 presentation stated that consumers “leave a data trail based on their conversations and online behavior,” and the company’s AI-powered software collects and analyzes “behavioral and voice data from more than 470 sources.”
Blackburn sent the letter on Tuesday to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Daniel York, president and CEO of marketing firm Cox Media Group. Bloomberg via Getty Images
The slideshow also revealed that both Meta and Google are clients of Cox Media Group.
Meta was unable to confirm whether CMG uses its data, but a spokesperson said: “We do not use mobile phone microphones for advertising and have been publicly transparent about this for years.”
“We are reaching out to CMG to clarify that their program is not based on metadata.”
Google CEO Sundar Pichai had to settle a $5 billion lawsuit last year over claims that the company secretly tracked the internet usage of millions of people who thought they were browsing privately. AP
Google subsequently removed CMG from its “Partner Program” website, and a spokesperson said in a statement that “advertisers must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, as well as Google Ads policies.”
“If we identify any ads or advertisers that violate these policies, we will take appropriate action,” the spokesperson added.
Neither statement was enough for Blackburn, who noted that both companies have a history of violating privacy considerations.
Blackburn noted that both companies have had privacy issues in the past.
“In 2019, the FTC fined Facebook $5 billion for violating consumer privacy,” the Tennessee Republican pointed out to Zuckerberg. “Then-FTC Chairman Joe Simons said of Facebook, ‘Despite repeatedly promising billions of users around the world that they have control over how their personal information is shared, Facebook has undermined consumer choice.'”
“This pattern of Meta’s long-standing public assurances is in direct contradiction to the company’s record of flagrant disregard for its users’ privacy,” she added.
“Last year, Google settled a $5 billion lawsuit alleging that it secretly tracked the internet activity of millions of people who thought they were browsing privately,” Blackburn told Pichai.
The senators are seeking answers by October 8 about whether the CEOs of Google, Meta and Cox Media were aware of the “active listening” software and whether consumers were notified.
The senators are seeking answers by October 8 about whether the company’s CEO was aware of the “active listening” software, whether consumers were notified, and how the company is cracking down on advertising companies that may be misusing sensitive user data.
“It is essential that consumers have clear opt-in and opt-out choices to features that track their behavior, and that they are warned when such features are rolled out,” she said.
Representatives for Meta, Google and Cox Media Group did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Blackburn’s Child Online Safety Act would provide additional safeguards to protect minors from harmful content on social media platforms. Reuters
Blackburn and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) helped urge the Senate to pass an internet privacy bill, the Kids Online Safety Act, by a 91-3 vote earlier this year.
They have since called on the House of Representatives to consider a bill that would put in place safeguards to protect minors from harmful content on social media platforms.
