Google Displays Fake Phone Numbers For Some Local Businesses In Toronto So They Can Record Calls (thestar.com)

grumpy-cowboy shared this article from the Toronto Star:: A spokesperson for Google has confirmed the service they've launched in Vancouver and Toronto to connect potential customers to trusted service providers funnels customers through ostensibly local phone numbers that are actually owned by Google for the purpose of call monitoring.

Google Local Services is an addition to its search platform that connects potential customers to local service providers who pay for the advertising. It launched in Toronto and Vancouver last December for locksmiths and heating, cooling and ventilation professionals. When someone in Toronto searches for a locksmith, for example, they'll see some service providers with green check marks next to the company name, meaning they've been vetted by Google.

The number next to the listing has a local area code, but that's not the business' real contact info. Instead, it's a dummy Google number that will route you to the business -- after informing you that it will be recording anything you say.

Comments

Commerce is deceit

[sgage]

Hey Google, Evil much?

But why?

[Gravis Zero]

There are only handful of possible reasons I can think of for Google doing this:

* This is a trial run to verify rating information before mass deployment (seems like an unlikely venue for such a thing).
* They are gathering data to improve a real-time English-French translation project. (real possibility)
* They are gathering data of common questions people call and ask to put on their site. (real possibility)
* They are gathering data to improve their voice tech (that everyone thought was creepy and nobody wanted) that is intended to interact with shops. (seems unlikely now)
* They got wind of Canada's plan for world domination and they want in. ;)

Any other ideas why they would do this?

Re:But why?

[AHuxley]

Voice prints.
Ads. Tracking.