Have you ever had the experience of talking to a friend about buying a new car or mentioning purchasing a property, only to start seeing ads related to those topics on your smartphone? Many Android users encounter this issue, which occurs because smartphones may be listening to conversations. Without proper settings, personal information can be exposed to Google, potentially compromising privacy.
All Android smartphones worldwide operate using a Google Account. To download apps and access various services, creating a Google account is essential. However, during the account setup, users grant permissions that allow Google to collect and utilise their information for targeted advertising purposes.
To prevent Google from listening in, you can adjust settings on your smartphone. Here is a guide on how to stop Google from tracking your audio and video activity.
A step-by-step guide on how to stop Google from tracking your audio and video activity
Step 1: Navigate to the settings of your Android device, then scroll down and select Google settings.
Step 2: Next, access your Google profile and tap on "Manage Your Google Account." From there, go to the Data & Privacy section.
Step 3: Within this section, you'll find the option for Web & App Activity. Tap on it and proceed to the next page.
Step 4: Here, you'll see the "Include Audio and Video Activity" subsetting. Deselect this option and accept Google's Terms of Service.
By doing so, Google will no longer have access to your smartphone's microphone, preventing the recording of voice input and the display of ads related to spoken words. This adjustment also helps safeguard personal privacy.
Meanwhile, the government is taking steps to reduce banking fraud calls on mobile phones throughout the day. Guidelines related to this issue are expected to be issued soon. The Department of Telecommunications and TRAI have drafted guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Unsolicited and Unwarranted Business Communication, 2024, which is set to be passed soon. The Consumer Affairs Department recently held a meeting to discuss this matter.
ALSO READ: This 'Made in India' AI tool competes with ChatGPT, GeminiAI: Here's how to use it
