Fact · Voice privacy and security
The FTC said Cox Media Group's active listening service did not listen to consumers' conversations or use voice data at all.
Checked against its source on October 17, 2026
In the source's own words
“This service did not, in fact, listen in on consumers’ conversations or use voice data at all,”
Cox Falsely Claimed To Target Ads Based On Conversations, FTC Charges, Wendy Davis, MediaPost, 2026, Second paragraph.
Open the original- What it measures
- Cox Media Group had sold the service to small businesses, claiming it could target ads based on overheard conversations. The FTC said the service actually resold email lists obtained from other data brokers.
- What it does not show
- This is the FTC's allegation as reported by MediaPost. The settlement resolved the charges without the court deciding them.