# Alexa Listening in to Target Ads **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 1, 2021, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431 "2021-01-01T09:06:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/21 "2021-01-03T04:28:34Z")
Most of the summer, with the radio on in the kitchen, when they did their streaming commercial, Alexa would wake up and answer that it was playing the station. The past several weeks it doesn’t do that anymore. Nothing has really changed on my end. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/22 "2021-01-03T05:32:08Z")
> [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > I did not say I thought it was true. I did not say you thought it was true. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/23 "2021-01-03T15:31:18Z")
You’d also have to question why these devices would do this. It’s a lot of effort for minimal gain. I wonder if people assume that because web browsers do something similar with tracking cookies, that a smart device would logically try to replicate it. But tracking cookies are generated by the web sites you visit. They don’t pick up what you do everywhere on your computer. If you write a recipe for chicken casserole in a Word document, you aren’t suddenly going to see ads for casserole pans on web sites. That bridges the gap between standard tracking cookies and blatant spyware. What people suspect smart devices of doing is pretty close to that, and there doesn’t seem to be any basis for that at this point. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/24 "2021-01-03T15:47:24Z")
Maybe you’re remembering stuff like this: > **[Apple contractors 'regularly hear confidential details' on Siri recordings](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jul/26/apple-contractors-regularly-hear-confidential-details-on-siri-recordings)** > > Workers hear drug deals, medical details and people having sex, says whistleblower > [@](#): > > Siri can be accidentally activated when it mistakenly hears its “wake word”, the phrase “hey Siri”. Those mistakes can be understandable – [a BBC interview about Syria was interrupted by the assistant last year](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-44701007/gavin-williamson-interrupted-by-siri-during-commons-statement) – or less so. “The sound of a zip, Siri often hears as a trigger,” the contractor said. The service can also be activated in other ways. For instance, if an Apple Watch detects it has been raised and then hears speech, Siri is automatically activated. > > The whistleblower said: “There have been countless instances of recordings featuring private discussions between doctors and patients, business deals, seemingly criminal dealings, sexual encounters and so on. These recordings are accompanied by user data showing location, contact details, and app data.” ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/25 "2021-01-03T15:50:45Z")
Reports like that you cited came out after popular reports on the internet of uncanny advertisements making people fear the sort of thing I outlined. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/26 "2021-01-03T16:16:05Z")
> [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > It was once commonly thought to be true. 🤨 You _really_ seem invested in pushing the idea that this “was a Big Deal” and that was “quite widespread” and “widely believed.” ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/27 "2021-01-03T16:16:59Z")
i am very sorry. Goodbye. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/28 "2021-01-03T16:26:21Z")
Well, I remember stories like this > **[An Amazon Echo recorded a family’s conversation, then sent it to a random...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/05/24/an-amazon-echo-recorded-a-familys-conversation-then-sent-it-to-a-random-person-in-their-contacts-report-says/)** > > "I'm never plugging that device in again,” one family member said. and this > **[Yep, human workers are listening to recordings from Google Assistant, too](https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/11/20690020/google-assistant-home-human-contractors-listening-recordings-vrt-nws)** > > Including audio recorded by mistake neither of which are the targeted ads of the OP, but worse. For what it’s worth, I don’t trust those things. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/29 "2021-01-03T16:28:31Z")
Also, during football, there are these little mini-ad/plugs for the assistants, where the voice over guy asks some Siri-like question, such as “who is today’s top passer?” Do those ever actually trigger the TV watchers’ assistants? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/30 "2021-01-03T16:50:13Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > For what it’s worth, I don’t trust those things. I don’t either because the technology is in its infancy, and anyone who uses it is basically a beta tester. I’ve been an IT professional for a couple decades now and I’ve always cautioned people against being early adopters. The only technology I utilize on a regular basis that answers to voice commands is my Xbox Kinect, and I am only okay with it because (1) it is very limited in what it can do, and (2) when it activates it makes it clear that it is active and what it’s doing with an on-screen overlay. Many smart devices can and do operate silently in the background and have access to do anything from making purchases to sending messages to people. I avoid technology like that as much as possible; I don’t even use Siri on my phone. In another ten years, hopefully they’ll have the kinks smoothed out and we can take such features for granted, but right now it feels like being a pioneer on early airplane flights or elevators. You’re taking a risk using them. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/31 "2021-01-03T23:10:19Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > The only technology I utilize on a regular basis that answers to voice commands is my Xbox Kinect, and I am only okay with it because (1) it is very limited in what it can do, and (2) when it activates it makes it clear that it is active and what it’s doing with an on-screen overlay. Many smart devices can and do operate silently in the background and have access to do anything from making purchases to sending messages to people. I avoid technology like that as much as possible; I don’t even use Siri on my phone. Settings \> Siri & Search \> Listen for “Hey Siri” \> uncheck the box ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/32 "2021-01-03T23:16:07Z")
Uh huh… Yes, of course that’s turned off. Now, not using Siri at all is because it sucks, I don’t need you to give me a Google result for what you think I said. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/33 "2021-01-03T23:30:13Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Now, not using Siri at all is because it sucks, I don’t need you to give me a Google result for what you think I said. Then I guess you should have said “I don’t use Siri because it sucks” instead of implying you avoid it because it can make purchases and send messages because it silently listens in the background. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/34 "2021-01-04T01:31:46Z")
I do both. I avoid all of its features. I turn off its passive listening features and also don’t use it actively. That should have been clear in context if you’d paid attention to what this thread was about. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/35 "2021-01-04T02:32:26Z")
> [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > I seem to recall the belief in this was quite widespread. What a very interesting little case study in … something. So was the idea that Furbies are listening to you. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/36 "2021-01-04T06:44:27Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I do both. I avoid all of its features. I turn off its passive listening features and also don’t use it actively. That should have been clear in context if you’d paid attention to what this thread was about. You didn’t make that clear at all, you said you don’t use it because “the technology is in its infancy.” Strange thing to say for a tech that’s been around in its current form for more than nine years. Also “Many smart devices can and do operate silently in the background and have access to do anything from making purchases to sending messages to people. I avoid technology like that as much as possible” says nothing about Siri sucking. What that does say is that you seem to be afraid of Siri making an inadvertent purchase or sending an inadvertent message, both of which are incredibly unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/37 "2021-01-04T09:55:19Z")
For what it’s worth: My wife works at Amazon. We know personally a guy who works in the Alexa division (we met him because our older daughter is friends with his daughter in class). When we asked him this question, he laughed and said, No, we don’t do that, we wouldn’t want it anyway because we’re already drowning in data just based on people’s actual direct requests. The informational load, not to mention the bandwidth impact, of constantly recording and processing millions upon millions of hours of free-form conversation makes this absolutely prohibitive. What would be the fractional ROI of sinking a huge amount of computing power into automatic transcription of massively indiscriminate sound capture solely for the purpose of divining purchasing habits out of a few fleeting seconds of identifiable content? It’s obviously absurd, and speaks more to people’s self-absorption and their inflated sense of identity in a huge and chaotic world than to any real understanding of how the technology marketplace actually works. ---
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/38 "2021-01-04T14:47:22Z")
That’s certainly an interesting and insightful response: They have absolutely no privacy or ethical concerns whatsoever and it boils down to the technology or AI not being advanced enough to make their ROI worthwhile. Good to know. I’d expect nothing less from Amazon. (Scratch Alexa off my list) ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/39 "2021-01-04T15:47:51Z")
Do you assume any differently for any other service provider? When I get a burger at McDonald’s, I assume that the reason they don’t use (rat/kangaroo/worm) meat for their burger is simply the colonies involved - cow is cheaper than those alternate sources of meat; but if they could save a buck by making their burgers out of those alternate sources of meat AND get away with it I am certain they would. ---
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431/40 "2021-01-04T17:12:11Z")
While I don’t disagree with your cynicism, I highly doubt McDonalds response to why they don’t put rat/kangaroo/worm into burgers is simply because it doesn’t make financial sense right now. Public and reaction would definitely be a factor, the difference is Amazon doesn’t give a shit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-listening-in-to-target-ads/929431.md?page=3)