Tags: data monetization

Smart security camera maker Eufy launched a winter promotion that offered owners $2 for each video showing a package theft or a person pulling on a car door, regardless of whether the footage was genuine or staged. The campaign aimed to collect 20,000 clips of each scenario to train the company’s artificial‑intelligence detection software. Eufy, a subsidiary of Anker, capped payouts at $20 per device and did not comment on the initiative. The move reflects a broader, still‑uncommon trend of tech firms paying consumers for data, while raising fresh concerns about privacy and past security lapses in Eufy’s products. Read more

The Neon Mobile app, which paid users for recordings of their phone calls to sell to artificial‑intelligence firms, has been taken offline after a security flaw allowed anyone to access call recordings, transcripts, phone numbers, and other metadata from any user. The vulnerability was uncovered by a technology outlet using network analysis tools, revealing that the app exposed private conversations without proper safeguards. The founder temporarily removed the app and notified users that additional security measures would be added, but the breach raised serious concerns about privacy, consent, and the future of such data‑monetizing services. Read more

Neon, a free mobile app for iOS and Android, rewards users for recording their outgoing phone calls, offering up to $30 a day for regular calls and a per‑minute rate for calls to other Neon users. The recorded audio is anonymized and sold to AI developers to improve voice assistants. The app has surged in popularity on iOS, ranking among the top free apps, while the Android version has received mixed reviews. Privacy experts warn that the service may run afoul of state consent laws and raise security concerns despite the company’s anonymization promises. Read more