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Facebook Could Use Data Collected From Its Portal In-Home Video Device To Target You With Ads (recode.net)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Recode: Facebook announced Portal last week, its take on the in-home, voice-activated speaker to rival competitors from Amazon, Google and Apple. Last Monday, we wrote: "No data collected through Portal -- even call log data or app usage data, like the fact that you listened to Spotify -- will be used to target users with ads on Facebook." We wrote that because that's what we were told by Facebook executives. But Facebook has since reached out to change its answer: Portal doesn't have ads, but data about who you call and data about which apps you use on Portal can be used to target you with ads on other Facebook-owned properties.

"Portal voice calling is built on the Messenger infrastructure, so when you make a video call on Portal, we collect the same types of information (i.e. usage data such as length of calls, frequency of calls) that we collect on other Messenger-enabled devices. We may use this information to inform the ads we show you across our platforms. Other general usage data, such as aggregate usage of apps, etc., may also feed into the information that we use to serve ads," a spokesperson said in an email to Recode. That isn't very surprising, considering Facebook's business model. The biggest benefit of Facebook owning a device in your home is that it provides the company with another data stream for its ad-targeting business.

32 of 62 comments (clear)

  1. And? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    This is unexpected? Ads are the entirety of their business model... you think they created messenger and portal and whatever the phooq else they peddle to make your life better? Hah!

    1. Re:And? by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 1

      Who buys these things anyway?

      Who is not aware of the extremely severe privacy and security issues they represent?

      It just dumbfounds me.

  2. It looks like your girlfriend is ugly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    do you want to buy more beer?

  3. My Home by PPH · · Score: 1

    Mainly ads for cleaning products.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  4. Facebook might be disappointed by hyades1 · · Score: 3, Funny

    If they're going to be getting information from a camera-equipped set-top box, I think they may be disappointed. How many ads for Vaseline and Kleenex can they sell?

    --
    I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
    1. Re:Facebook might be disappointed by DarkRookie2 · · Score: 1

      And socks. Don't forget those.

      --
      http://progressquest.com/spoltog.php?name=Son+Of+Son+Of+DarkRookie
    2. Re:Facebook might be disappointed by hyades1 · · Score: 1

      Excellent point.

      --
      I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
  5. "Could"?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    That's cute. Try *will*.

    1. Re:"Could"?? by DarkRookie2 · · Score: 1

      The best part of that is that it is only 'will' and not 'are' since the devices haven't been released yet.

      --
      http://progressquest.com/spoltog.php?name=Son+Of+Son+Of+DarkRookie
  6. Really?!?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I'm shocked. Shocked I say!

  7. "could" is a bit generous by redback · · Score: 2

    "Could" ? They will fucking mine you for every bit of data they can.

  8. It is worth it by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

    It is definitely worth it in exchange for a smart speaker that only costs $199 or $349!

  9. Seriously? by djbckr · · Score: 1

    I notice that my feed as of late is more ads than anything else. I really would rather keep up with my friends across the country, but I'm starting to think about dropping FB because the ads are getting rather unbearable. And I use ad-blocking software.

    1. Re:Seriously? by 110010001000 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Ads are a small price to pay in exchange for knowing what the friend of a guy you knew in college had for lunch.

    2. Re:Seriously? by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 2

      But but but how else will you keep up with what your neighbor's cousin's ex's plumber's newest parolee-girlfriend is currently eating/buying/fucking?

      How else will you be able to see blurry pictures of amazing shitty food that some random drunken goober took at some shithole diner at 3AM?

      How else will you keep abreast of what some pompous douchebag who went to the same high school as you is doing day in and day out?

      How, I ask you, HOW??? Won't someone think of the douchebags?!?!?!?!

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
  10. Story tagged 'obvious' by thoughtlover · · Score: 1

    That isn't very surprising, considering Facebook's business model. The biggest benefit of Facebook owning a device in your home is that it provides the company with another data stream for its ad-targeting business.

    Where "another" data stream being your phone... obviously. I strongly encourage everyone to delete their Facebook profile. You may be giving FB advert monies, but you're definitely giving the US Gov more.

    --
    No sig for you! Come back one year!
  11. Re:Exercise is repeated until the lesson is learne by DarkRookie2 · · Score: 2

    You don't need the 'from facebook' part
    The others are currently doing this since they are out.

    --
    http://progressquest.com/spoltog.php?name=Son+Of+Son+Of+DarkRookie
  12. No thanks I'll pass by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I don't even have Facebook on my phone anymore. I only stick with Facebook for getting a few updates from friends. Otherwise, I'm done with it.

  13. Sad state of affairs by nwaack · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The fact that the Portal even exists really says a lot about how stupid the average consumer is.

  14. I'm glad they clarified that. by cshark · · Score: 1

    I guess I won't be buying one of these. Oh well.

    --

    This signature has Super Cow Powers

  15. Facebook has hit a zuckerberg and is sinking by WaffleMonster · · Score: 1

    Facebook is listing.

    It's stocks liquefying.
    https://finance.yahoo.com/char...

    Passengers jumping ship in disgust.
    http://www.pewresearch.org/fac...

    Only Yiannis Avranas (Captain of the Oceanus) can save our souls now.

  16. Ahem ... by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

    See sig.

    --
    It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
  17. Let me get this straight... by Sebby · · Score: 1

    I get to pay to buy a device that will then rape my privacy?

    I don't think I can say "Oh fuck NO!" fast enough.

    --

    AC comments get piped to /dev/null
  18. Make you're friends' day... by Grog6 · · Score: 4, Funny

    The next time you're at their house, ask their device about a wide ranging sea of dubious products for erectile dysfunction, herpes cremes, Hep C vaccines, and various porn acts, mostly dubious or illegal:

    "Is sodomy legal in my state?" (Address lookup, law database, etc)
    "Is sex with animals..." (Same as above)
    "Horse-human STD's..." (Medical database lookup, crossreferences galore)
    "Will anal hurt my..." (Lots of databases, medical, legal, etc.)
    "How do I..." (Depending, law enforcement may tag them, and other databases will now see them)

    It's best if it's in a different room, but you can ask a lot of things before they throw you out. :)

    Yes, I used to read Phrack, lol.

    Disclaimer: No one I know will have one of these in their home.

    --
    Truth isn't Truth - Guliani
  19. shocking! by Hugh+Jorgen · · Score: 1

    If you build it the sheep will buy it, not only monetarily but wholeheartedly.

  20. Extra big ads by AHuxley · · Score: 1

    More ad innovation between all the banning of accounts.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  21. Ha ha ha ha by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 2

    "No data collected through Portal -- even call log data or app usage data, like the fact that you listened to Spotify -- will be used to target users with ads on Facebook."

    Ha ha ha, and if you believe one single word of that weapons-grade horseshit, I have some beachfront property on the Moon that I'd like to sell you.

    Trust me, kids- EVERY BIT of the data collected through Portal will be used to target you and everyone else with ads on some platform, including Facebook.

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
  22. You don't say! by ilsaloving · · Score: 1

    Facebook is going to use it's purchased products to harvest your personal information?

    I cannot believe Facebook would double-dip like that! I'm shocked!

    (Yes, that was sarcasm)

  23. API misuse by viperidaenz · · Score: 1

    Future statement from Facebook: "Some Facebook partners have been found to have misused an API to capture live audio and video data from a small* number of users"
    * small being any number less than the number of devices manufactured"

  24. They could, but... by aybiss · · Score: 2

    While I'm sure they'll market it to the advertisers as something they could do, they will still face the basic problem with targeting ads that is already faced even when the user knowingly submits information on themselves in a computer-friendly format:

    1 - It will still be seen as noise on the screen and not even noticed most of the time

    2 - It will still not cause people to actually spend money even when they do see it

    3 - It will still only be as targeted as "male -> sell viagra", which is where they've been since the 90s

    The biggest lie that advertising ever sold was the idea that advertising even works.

    --
    It's OK Bender, there's no such thing as 2.
  25. When I can teabag Zuckerberg ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    When I can teabag Zuckerberg in times square, ass fuck him, and get paid a billion dollars for it, then I might own one of these.

    But until then, I assure you that any product which has direct tie-ins to Facebook will not receive my money.

    I block them at the DNS layer, and via privacy extensions.

    I wouldn't wipe my ass with a manual for a product with links to Facebook, let alone use it.

  26. Facebook in 'creepy product' shocker by Maritz · · Score: 1

    Give those creepy fuckers fuck all. Avoid this shit like the plague.

    --
    I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.