There’s a new app for your phone called CrowdPilot, and it may be even creepier than anything the NSA is doing.  Billed as something that can help you get advice in real time, CrowdPilot lets you choose friends or co-workers to listen in on your phone call or face to face conversation, and then offer suggestions to you on what to say.  You know, because you aren’t capable of having conversations without help.  You can choose a situation type (such as argument or date) and open it up to the entire Crowdpilot world too, so any random stranger can insert themselves into your conversation and give you tips…without the party you’re talking to ever knowing that they just had a group of people listening in to their private conversation.

Crowdpilot lets you crowdsource your social interactions by bringing a group of your friends or strangers along to listen in and assist you in any situation,” the app’s description states. “Whenever you need help, turn on Crowdpilot to stream your conversation to the web where the anonymous crowd – optionally supported by a team of your Facebook friends – will tune in, follow along and assist you. Or become a crowdpilot yourself, and watch and direct others!

The worst part is, during a phone call, the secret ‘advice’ group can actually talk to you…without the other person hearing them.  So, you’re having an argument with the spouse about finances, and while he’s going on about your credit card usage, you have Random Person you Don’t Know in your ear too, telling you what to say next.  Because…they are now familiar with your situation (and your finances) after hearing your entire conversati0n.  Too bad your spouse has no idea that Random Person is even on the line.

You can also be part of the “crowd” yourself.  On the app’s website is a page where you can tap into stranger’s conversations and offer your own advice.  The site is quite plain about the fact that you will be listening to someone’s live conversation.  Interestingly enough, their privacy policy was blocked by my employer as a “malicious site.”

Are we so desensitized to privacy invasion that this is considered innovative and exciting?  Are we so socially inept that we need to crowdsource our conversations?  Are we that bereft of anything regarding interpersonal skills?  Whatever happened to trial and error?  The app says you should inform the other party that there are people listening, but we all know how that will play out.  No one, and I do mean no one, is going to pause in a conversation and say “Oh, by the way, I’ve got about 15-25 people listening in right now to help me because I don’t know how to talk to people.  Is that okay?”

No. It’s not okay. Not okay at all.