[hackermatic]

The marketing company is owned by Cox, an ISP, cable, phone, and general media conglomerate. This capability is apparently already active and being sold.

The full article title is: "Marketing Company Claims That It Actually Is Listening to Your Phone and Smart Speakers to Target Ads"

[MBCook]

Yeah I had to trim it down to fit HN.

But I’d love to see more proof of this. I fully believe it’s happening, but only on some devices.

For example I doubt Apple devices do it (they’ve locked that down a lot and added recording indicators). Or any other relatively premium brand like Sony or Samsung. But I fully believe the ultra cheap versions of things like TVs or Android phones would do it. A $50 Android phone at a gas station has to make money somehow.

[legitster]

Cox Media Group was actually spun out from Cox and the two appear largely independent.

[hackermatic]

You're right, but Wikipedia says that Cox Enterprises (which owns the ISP) retains a 29% stake in CMG.