Secret Chief
Veteran Member
(whispers) Well, is it? And if it is, did you give it permission to?
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Is Your Phone Listening To You?
- Thread starter Secret Chief
- Start date
No. 
I have a flip phone without internet capabilities.
I have a flip phone without internet capabilities.
Secret Chief
Veteran Member
Ok, but have you heard of such a thing? Or is it paranoia?No.
I have a flip phone without internet capabilities.
Based off of what my husband's phone does, I'd say it seems like a legitimate concern. It more often than not starts advertising whatever he's been talking about.
I don't know how you turn that option off.
Secret Chief
Veteran Member
That's exactly the experience I mean. I'm guessing there's no option to turn it off, given permission was not requested.
I really don't know if there is or not. I'm guessing if there is a place to turn it off, its deeply hidden. I suspect the default setting is to have it set to 'on'.
Our phones do listen to us to an extent, such as use of Siri or voice searches. Certain apps can also record your voice (you give them permission but probably didn't read the fine print).
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Yeah, you have to disable to permission for it in your phone, if it is a Smart Phone.
RestlessSoul
Well-Known Member
Everything you say online is in the public domain, pretty much, unless you take steps to encrypt your interactions. So I'd assume the same applies to conversations on a cell phone. I'm not sure of the legality regarding access to information about you, your search history etc, but every time you accept cookies from a site you visit you're giving permission to advertisers to buy and sell information about you for commercial purposes. If you've ever used Google maps btw, Google knows everywhere your phone has been, unless you've disabled the Timeline function.
Subduction Zone
Veteran Member
Google "listens" to you when you search. You can use that for your own benefit sometimes. Say that you are on a forum and do not want to see ads for cars, or Kraft macaroni and cheese. Then don't search for those items. Instead say if you like attractive women (or guys) in bathing suits do some searching at those sites. It does not really matter how much times you spend there, it is more important to search. The ads that you see will reflect our searches.
Secret Chief
Veteran Member
I take your point, but I'm not meaning conversations using a telephone. I mean real world conversations and your phone just happens to be about your person. Then later something pops up on your phone that is highly indicative your conversation was listened to (presumably by a bit of computer stuff) and sold on.
Secret Chief
Veteran Member
I use the verb "to google" but not the site itself. I use DuckDuckGo which claims not to collect, hold or sell data. Plus I use an ad-blocker.
Subduction Zone
Veteran Member
What you use an ad blocker? How immoral! Shh! so do I.
If it's a concern..
Is my phone listening to me? Yes, here’s why and how to stop it
Is my phone listening to me? Yes, here’s why and how to stop it
RestlessSoul
Well-Known Member
You mean while it's in your pocket? Possible, I suppose, but almost certainly on very dodgy legal ground.
Now I'm thinking about this scene...
Secret Chief
Veteran Member
Ads would be a complete waste of time on me anyway.
Heyo
Veteran Member
I'm not 100% sure but I banned Google from my phone as much as possible without changing the ROM.
Secret Chief
Veteran Member
Esentially, yes - specifically in my partner's bag.
Subduction Zone
Veteran Member
Me too. And my tablet unfortunately does not have an ad blocker. Sigh. Time to look at various swimsuit and lingerie ads again. The ads say that I have been slacking.Ads would be a complete waste of time on me anyway.
Of course.
There are times when my phone is not lit-up/active when when it hears some dialog from the TV, assumes a question is being asked, becomes active and tries to answer whatever it thought the question was.
So if you have a smart-phone, even when not technically active, it can hear what is being said near-by.
I haven't figured out the exact phrase to wake it but some phrase causes it to wake up from sleep mode.
Supposedly you can deactivate it, but must be on by default.