Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ad Networks Using Inaudible Sound To Link Phones, Tablets and Other Devices (arstechnica.com)

Posted by timothy on from the high-keening-wail dept.

ourlovecanlastforeve writes with a link to Ars Technica's report of a new way for ads to narrow in on their target: high-pitched sounds that can make ad tracking cross devices and contexts. From the article: The ultrasonic pitches are embedded into TV commercials or are played when a user encounters an ad displayed in a computer browser. While the sound can't be heard by the human ear, nearby tablets and smartphones can detect it. When they do, browser cookies can now pair a single user to multiple devices and keep track of what TV commercials the person sees, how long the person watches the ads, and whether the person acts on the ads by doing a Web search or buying a product.

3 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. But they say adblock is bad by geekd · · Score: 5, Informative

    They pull crap like this and then have the gall to say adblock users are evil?

  2. Re:Microphone access. by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 5, Informative

    Oh yeah cuz android.

    And cuz iPhone. It works on both.

    It works on both iOS and Androidd

  3. Again, RTFA... by Y.A.A.P. · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you RTFA, you'll note that no one actually says this is happening yet.

    This is about a complaint filed with the FCC to prevent the use of this technology. One company, SilverPush, is cited as having developed the technology and details about it are in the public view, but that's the only case where there's even anything to cite about this form of intrusive technology.

    You can let your hackles go back to their normal position now.