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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.
"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.
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.
That's cute. Try *will*.
"Could" ? They will fucking mine you for every bit of data they can.
Ads are a small price to pay in exchange for knowing what the friend of a guy you knew in college had for lunch.
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
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.
The fact that the Portal even exists really says a lot about how stupid the average consumer is.
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
"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...
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...
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.