Does Google have access to our phone conversations?

#1

Post by deobrats » Thu, May 10, 2012, 9:29 AM UTC

Does Google have access to our phone conversations?
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Re: Does Google have access to our phone conversations?

#2

Post by kaolinite » Thu, May 10, 2012, 10:01 AM UTC

Interesting. I just texted a friend "car insurance, need car insurance, buy a car and I need insurance".

My next advert on Gmail was "Ford Transit from £179 pm The Best Prices Guaranteed."

Possibly a coincidence, I'm not sure. I don't drive currently and haven't emailed anyone about wanting to or planning to, etc. I also use Ghostery and rarely am signed in to Gmail.

Re: Does Google have access to our phone conversations?

#3

Post by drivebyacct2 » Thu, May 10, 2012, 10:26 AM UTC

Huh? I mean, I would assume if you use Google Voice, they have an ability to do so. I doubt they are, if anything they might use text messages the way they use Gmail mails, but this article seems to be implying that Google has access to calls between arbitrary subscribers on arbitrary networks.

Besides that being an absurd claim, I'd rather Google do it than those who we already KNOW are listening to them....

Re: Does Google have access to our phone conversations?

#4

Post by sparknlaunch12 » Thu, May 10, 2012, 10:45 AM UTC

I have heard others raise concerns about adverts reflecting recent google voice calls. I thought this was outside the current product terms?

However it would not be out of the question google had the technology to do this. Not sure this is a breach of privacy.

Re: Does Google have access to our phone conversations?

#5

Post by [deleted] » Thu, May 10, 2012, 10:46 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Does Google have access to our phone conversations?

#6

Post by vbsteven » Thu, May 10, 2012, 10:51 AM UTC

Could be some kind of blue car syndrome.

Re: Does Google have access to our phone conversations?

#7

Post by brudgers » Thu, May 10, 2012, 11:03 AM UTC

Google's privacy policy allows them to use a person's data to develop new products and services. Scanning voice communications for key words and then converting those into targeted advertising seems like it would be consistent with such use.

And without the intent to do something along those lines, it is hard to see a business case under which Google could justify devoting resources to Voice.

Re: Does Google have access to our phone conversations?

#8

Post by cleverjake » Thu, May 10, 2012, 11:05 AM UTC

brudgers wrote: post #7

Google's privacy policy allows them to use a person's data to develop new products and services. Scanning voice communications for key words and then converting those into targeted advertising seems like it would be consistent with such use. And without the intent to do something along those lines, it is hard to see a business case under which Google could justify devoting resources to Voice.

voice search.

Re: Does Google have access to our phone conversations?

#9

Post by davweb » Thu, May 10, 2012, 11:09 AM UTC

Since the first example given is about wearing a T-shirt with the Dutch flag on it and getting Gmail adds about Holland, I think this is a offhand post about coincidences rather than something suggesting Google is monitoring voice calls to give more relevant advertising.

Re: Does Google have access to our phone conversations?

#10

Post by EwanToo » Thu, May 10, 2012, 11:09 AM UTC

I think this post was written mostly as a joke, right?

First of all, it was written in 2009, secondly it starts:

Now this is really really eerie stuff. Today I came to office wearing my “Holland” T-shirt. I normally never wear this shirt to office.

I fired up my Gmail in the browser, and see a “Study in Holland” Google ad!

Now, maybe my sense of humour is way off, but I think the guy wasn't being serious about Google looking at his shirt and serving adverts based on it...