[tveita]

Even a few years ago it would be perfectly possible to do audio based content ID on known content to uncover viewing preferences on streaming media - a proven business model, ref https://samsungads.events/acrguide-pr

These days you could easily run Whisper locally on each cable box and report back whatever information advertisers will pay for. It will run a bit hot, but what do they care if they waste your electricity.

[kurthr]

Yeah, listening/matching for specific songs or words is trivial locally. It has been done commercially since the early 2000s (for ASCAP) on mobile phones, when they were dumb bricks. The idea that every single company is following some righteous non-profit seeking stance, is sort of laughable. Maybe FAANG have decided it's not worth it (they have other ways), but that doesn't mean they couldn't or other apps don't.