NordVPN test reveals smartphone AI assistants eavesdropping for ad targeting
NordVPN researchers published a test demonstrating that smartphone AI assistants may be eavesdropping on conversations to target advertisements. The test showed ads appeared for topics discussed aloud but never searched online, suggesting potential microphone surveillance for ad targeting.
What happened
NordVPN researchers developed a four-step test to determine whether smartphones are listening to conversations for targeted advertising purposes.
The test involves choosing a unique topic not previously searched or discussed, engaging in conversations about it near the phone over several days, avoiding direct interaction with related content, and then observing changes in targeted advertisements.
NordVPN found that advertisements related to the test topic started appearing on devices just a few days after researchers discussed the topic they had never searched for online.
Reported impact
The findings suggest smartphone AI assistants may be monitoring conversations and using the captured audio to inform targeted advertising without users' explicit consent or knowledge.
Index analysis
The test methodology relies on observing correlations between spoken conversations and subsequent targeted advertisements, which could indicate microphone activation or other sensor use for ad targeting purposes.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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