Instagram head says Meta is not secretly listening to your conversations via microphones
Follow UsMosseri emphasised that secret recording would drain batteries and trigger visible microphone indicators.
From December 16, Meta will use AI-driven insights from user interactions to refine ad targeting.
The perception of “creepy” ad recommendations is often due to coincidence or human psychology, not secret listening.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri denied in a post that Meta secretly listens to users’ conversations using their phone microphones to target advertisements. He took it to his account to address the long-standing conspiracy theory, which has even resurfaced in conversations with his own friends and family.
SurveyThe myth has persisted at least since 2016, when Facebook (now Meta) was forced to publicly admit that it did not use microphones to influence News Feed content or advertising. Mark Zuckerberg reiterated the assurance at a US congressional hearing, and Meta has consistently denied the allegations. Mosseri emphasised that secretly recording people would not only deplete device batteries but would also produce visible results, such as a microphone indicator light.
This video comes as Meta prepares to expand its data collection. Beginning December 16, the company’s new privacy policy will allow it to use data gathered from user interactions with its AI products to deliver targeted advertising on Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms. This means that the company will no longer require microphones to surface highly relevant ads, and instead, AI-powered insights from personal chats and prompts may provide even richer signals about user interests and behaviour.
Mosseri also stated that Meta’s advanced ad targeting system is built on algorithms and advertiser data sharing. For example, when users visit specific websites, businesses can share this information with Meta, which helps to refine ad recommendations. The system also compares the patterns of people who share similar interests, allowing the company to serve ads that appear to be extremely accurate.
Mosseri contended that psychology may contribute to the perception of “creepiness.” People frequently scroll past ads without realising it, only to bring up related topics later in conversation, making the ad appear predictive rather than coincidental.
Meta, which has long been criticised for its approach to privacy, is now under fresh scrutiny as it links advertising more directly to its generative AI technologies. Even if the microphones remain untouched, this shift may confirm users’ suspicions that the company is listening in.
