Does apple listen to ambient noise and target ads based on what I say?

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Does apple listen to ambient noise and target ads based on what I say?

I had an example recently where someone was talking in the bedroom, and the next morning when I opened my computer, I saw an ad for something that I had not heard of prior to the bedroom conversation. Only I use my laptop. That person doesn't use my computer, so they wouldn't have had access to browse or leave an information trail on my laptop. Do apple products (phone, watch, etc) listen to the ambient noise in my room and pass that information back to Apple (or a third party) for advertising purposes?

Posted on Nov 1, 2018 10:30 AM

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Answer 1

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jleepimco Author

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Nov 1, 2018 1:24 PM in response to macjack

I understand you don't believe they want our personal info. Why, then, are so many people reporting similar types of issues where they say something and then see the ad shortly thereafter? Is this some form of mass hysteria, or are our Apple devices listening to us (at Apple's or a third party's behest) to advertise more effectively? It'd be so easy for them to use their speech-to-text capabilities to convert our discussions to small text files that could pass in packets to Apple (or Google, or Amazon); then convert them to ads. The concern is that it's happening on Apple devices that are not in active use. Why?

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Answer 2

macjack

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111,168 points

Nov 2, 2018 6:21 AM in response to jleepimco

Like I said, Apple derives no revenues from advertising. The search engines do in fact, they rely on it. Google doesn't have to do anything to hack your Mac (which would be incdrebilly difficult, if not impossible) it collects your interests very time you do a search.

The most likely scenario is that you have cookies for sites you've visited.

Also some cache cleaning may help:

Force Quit Safari ( command + option + esc keys). Then restart Safari holding the Shift key.

Turn off Safari extensions in Safari > Preferences > Extensions > un-checkmark all extensions.

Empty Caches. You can either choose Safari menu > Clear History Or, if you do not want to remove History go to Safari menu > Preferences > Advanced and check the “Show Develop Menu” in Menubar. Then, on that menu > “Empty Caches”.

Of course if this helps it will only be very temporary and won't clear out all the tracking information they already have. It's really an exercise in futility. This is the price we pay for the internet.

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Answer 3

macjack

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111,168 points

Nov 1, 2018 10:48 AM in response to jleepimco

No Apple isn't listening. Apple has no interest in your information, or purchase habits. Unlike other companies that rely on advertising for their revenues, Apple makes its money from the sales of its products.

Legal - Privacy Policy - Apple

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Answer 4

jleepimco Author

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Nov 1, 2018 11:00 AM in response to macjack

Do you work for Apple? I'd like them to make a statement on this, rather than us speculating. Also, are there security settings that might allow other apps to be recording that info for advertising purposes in an app that I opened (e.g. on my watch) and didn't close (per Apple's suggestion there is no reason to close apps b/c they are optimized not to take up background data)?

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Answer 5

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Nov 1, 2018 11:08 AM in response to jleepimco

No, I don't work for Apple, but as I said Apple has no reason to "listen" or otherwise want your personal information. Did you read the link on privacy I posted. Apple is so big on privacy that they wouldn't open an iPhone for the FBI.

What's more likely is that you also searched something using Google related to what you were talking about.

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Answer 6

jleepimco Author

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Nov 1, 2018 11:02 AM in response to jleepimco

(and thank you for responding)

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