// content creator behavior

Source: Kottke

A creator discovered that inaudible audio embedded in videos—likely placed there by advertisers or analytics firms—can pinpoint viewer location by cross-referencing with flight path databases, turning passive video consumption into precise geolocation surveillance. Consumer behavior tracking has moved beyond visible cookies and pixels into imperceptible channels most platforms don't disclose, creating a surveillance method that viewers cannot consent to or detect. The finding exposes a gap between what companies claim they're collecting and what actually happens at the technical layer.