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Google Wants to Listen to Your TV to Place Ads

Illustration: Karen Spector (original here)

OK, now this is getting just downright creepy: Google has apparently tested a system that allows your computer to “listen” to your TV, recognize what program you’re watching, and then serve up ads related to that show.

Freaked out? Check out Truthdig contributor (and Google book author) Mark Malseed on Google and privacy.

BBC:

A system that lets your computer “listen” to your television to create targeted web adverts has been designed and tested by researchers at Google.

The “mass personalization” system can identify a programme from as little as five seconds of sound.

It then presents related information or adverts in the web browser.

Google researchers believe it could also be used to monitor audience size or create social networks around viewers watching the same show.

Link

TAGS: ad advertising computer google screen

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By Morley Young, June 19, 2006 at 11:42 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Is this the same Google that lies down and rolls over when the government wants their files? Brrr!

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By G. Anderson, June 18, 2006 at 10:05 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Since there are only a few shows worth watching during any given week, this will turn out to be a waste of time and effort.

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By cg, June 18, 2006 at 11:20 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

This is truly frightening.
If they can listen to what you are watching on TV, what is to stop them or someone else from listening to you and what you are saying in the privacy of your own home.
Could this be the first steps toward the “Telescreen”?

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