That stat about Facebook tracking audio even when the app is closed really got me

Honestly I read this study from Penn State that said Facebook uses your phone's mic to listen for 'audio beacons' in TV ads and stuff like that, even when you kill the app from the task manager. They found it happens about 70% of the time on Android. Has anyone else noticed super specific ads popping up after talking about something random at home?

2 comments

2 Comments

cameron_webb8h ago

Well I'll be. That Penn State study is interesting but I bet the real issue is worse than people think. Facebook probably isn't just listening for audio beacons in ads, they're likely using the mic to build a sound profile of your home so they can guess what kind of neighborhood you live in or what gadgets you own. Think about it, if your phone hears a loud truck outside or a specific brand of dishwasher running, that tells them your income level and living situation way better than any survey ever could.

palmer.jana7h ago

@cameron_webb I'm not surprised at all honestly. I started putting a piece of electrical tape over my phone's mic years ago after a buddy of mine in IT showed me how much data those apps grab. Haven't seen a targeted ad for stuff I only said out loud since then. It's a total pain when I need to take a call but worth it to not feel like big tech is in my living room.