Always listening...

[fisicx]

While waiting for things I often watch you tube shorts on my phone to pass the time. Most are junk but there are some gems.

Last week I've been chatting to my daughter on whatsapp in German (because that's where she lives).

You tube is now showing me videos in German.

 

[UkAppCoder]

Yeah, I'm sick of it.

Only the other day my bro and I were talking about the lady down the road - lovely woman. We were complimenting her on her charity work and choir singing.

Next morning I've got these filthy ads for thong knickers all over my browser screens.

What the hell's going on?!

 

[DazRave]

While waiting for things I often watch you tube shorts on my phone to pass the time. Most are junk but there are some gems.

Last week I've been chatting to my daughter on whatsapp in German (because that's where she lives).

You tube is now showing me videos in German.

Well, that's interesting!

Were you using the web app version of WhatsApp or the app on your phone?

 

[fisicx]

It’s just the WhatsApp you download from the AppStore.

 

[DazRave]

It's likely to be a massive coincidence in that case. Especially since the two services, to my knowledge, don't share data either and their parent companies are also technically competitors when it comes to marketing etc.

Interesting nevertheless and for a split second did worry me!

If you're any good with a little bit of Linux and by any chance at all have a spare raspberry pi knocking about (or access to a home linux server/VM)... I highly recommend running PiHole, a network-wide adblocker.

The Missus thinks adverts she sees on websites when she's travelling out and about are location based because she hardly ever sees them when at home. Stopped before they enter the local network.

 

[fisicx]

I doubt it’s anything to do with WhatsApp, it’s just Google listening is all the time.

A mate in the US was talking to a friend in the room about truck tyres and within hours he was seeing adverts for truck tyres.

It’s one of the reasons I refuse to have Alexa, Ring, Echo or anything similar in the house. And why you should avoid using Chrome for anything.

 

[DazRave]

You own a mobile phone I assume? Most people who complain about smart home speakers / AI Assistants tend to forget they have been walking around with a microphone and GPS tracker in their hand for going on 15 years... What's changed that's so different now? (unless of course, you tell me you've got an old classic Nokia brick and if this is the case, I'll be both surprised but also impressed).

I've heard stories similar to the truck tyres so many times. Once a friend was adamant that the night before he was talking to his missus about where they'd like to go on holiday (within the UK) and the next day (while I was with him) he was getting adverts all over the place about booking hotel rooms at the place they eventually decided on. He swore he didn't search for hotel rooms etc. I had no reason not to believe him but managed to convince him to let me look at his search history for the hour or so he said the conversation happened.

He'd opened google maps and punched in the place name purely to see how far it was to drive and from that alone google was pushing hotel bookings on him all day. He hadn't even remembered checking the distance and also didn't think it would have sparked such a reaction with advertisements. No clever spying, no specific keyword to look out for such as 'hotel', just basic understanding that if someone is looking at directions to somewhere they don't live they might want accommodation too.

 

[Eric Bruce]

Google knows you better than you do.