Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by janrinok on Tuesday June 12 2018, @06:12PM   Printer-friendly
from the apps-have-ears dept.

The Spanish soccer league's smartphone app, which has been installed by millions of users, uses the microphone and GPS readings of the devices its installed on to report possible instances of streaming piracy by listening. The smartphone app listens to and analyzes the audio in its surroundings to check if one of La Liga’s matches is being played and then pairs that with GPS data to see if that location is an authorized broadcaster and file reports.

Spanish soccer league "La Liga" is using its official Android app to create an army of millions of piracy spies. The app can access microphone and location data to scan for restaurants, bars, and other establishments that broadcast their matches without a license. "Protect your team," La Liga notes, while encouraging users to enable the functionality.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 2) by frojack on Tuesday June 12 2018, @07:14PM (6 children)

    by frojack (1554) on Tuesday June 12 2018, @07:14PM (#692060) Journal

    What part of "Spanish soccer league's smartphone app" sounds like pirating to you?

    --
    No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 12 2018, @07:26PM (5 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 12 2018, @07:26PM (#692071)

    TFA is about the app catching people pirating Spanish soccer matches. Thus, you turning off the microphone can only be to protect yourself from being discovered.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 12 2018, @07:38PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 12 2018, @07:38PM (#692076)

      TFA is about soccer. Thus, you commenting on it can only mean you're a soccer fan.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 12 2018, @09:26PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 12 2018, @09:26PM (#692108)

        How did you know I was a soccer fan? Also, I'm a fan of sarcasm.

    • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Osamabobama on Tuesday June 12 2018, @09:48PM

      by Osamabobama (5842) on Tuesday June 12 2018, @09:48PM (#692115)

      You could also turn off your microphone to protect the sports bar where you are viewing the pirated match. Or to save your battery. Or because you don't trust the app developers to listen in on your daily activities.

      But, really, you don't even need a reason.

      --
      Appended to the end of comments you post. Max: 120 chars.
    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by sjames on Wednesday June 13 2018, @12:13AM

      by sjames (2882) on Wednesday June 13 2018, @12:13AM (#692160) Journal

      NO.

      They pilfer your mic and location data trying to catch others who are pilfering the games. For example, if you go to a sports bar.

      One set of rules for me, another for thee.

    • (Score: 2, Insightful) by r_a_trip on Wednesday June 13 2018, @02:12PM

      by r_a_trip (5276) on Wednesday June 13 2018, @02:12PM (#692333)

      *** Thus, you turning off the microphone can only be to protect yourself from being discovered. ***

      What a meek sheeple position. How about the owner paid for the hardware and the electricity and the data plan and it is not for a two bit soccer organisation to appropriate for their own dubious uses.

      If you don't agree, I'll fit you with a non-removable, implanted IP-camera to make sure you do not have sex with persons under the age of consent.