Ask HN: Why does Facebook.com activate the microphone?

#1

Post by 35mm » Thu, Dec 04, 2025, 8:53 AM UTC

In Safari on macOS when visiting the Facebook newsfeed, the system mic active icon appears in the menu bar and says that Safari is using it.

I haven't granted permission. When I asked ChatGPT it said 'Safari creates an audio capture session even if the user has not granted microphone permission, for capability negotiation, but no audio data leaves the device until permission is granted.' - is that accurate?

Re: Ask HN: Why does Facebook.com activate the microphone?

#2

Post by bunnybomb2 » Thu, Dec 04, 2025, 10:15 AM UTC

Cause they are listening to you to sell data to ad companies. all hail facebook

Remember when people paid $50 for amazon alexa to spy on all ur Conversations ?

Re: Ask HN: Why does Facebook.com activate the microphone?

#3

Post by fuzzfactor » Thu, Dec 04, 2025, 10:24 AM UTC

“Oh, Grandma, what big ears you have!”

“The better to hear you with, my child,” came the growling reply.

Re: Ask HN: Why does Facebook.com activate the microphone?

#4

Post by pulvinar » Thu, Dec 04, 2025, 11:47 AM UTC

That's odd. ChatGPT (5.1) tells me Safari does not open an audio capture session for 'capability negotiation' that would show the mic icon.

I assume you have Safari > Settings > Websites > Microphone > facebook.com set to the default "Ask", or to "Deny"? Also check any installed extensions.

Re: Ask HN: Why does Facebook.com activate the microphone?

#5

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Dec 04, 2025, 1:35 PM UTC

pulvinar wrote: post #4

That's odd. ChatGPT (5.1) tells me Safari does not open an audio capture session for 'capability negotiation' that would show the mic icon. I assume you have Safari > Settings > Websites > Microphone > facebook.com set to the default "Ask", or to "Deny"? Also check any installed extensions.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Why does Facebook.com activate the microphone?

#6

Post by more_corn » Thu, Dec 04, 2025, 2:29 PM UTC

So it can listen to you and serve ads that track your every movement, word and thought like an uncanny evil genie?

Better question, why are you still on facebook?

Re: Ask HN: Why does Facebook.com activate the microphone?

#7

Post by codegeek » Thu, Dec 04, 2025, 3:29 PM UTC

facebook is definitely listening. We have had many instances where wife and I discussed something and an ad appeared on fb related to that.

Re: Ask HN: Why does Facebook.com activate the microphone?

#8

Post by iamthejuan » Thu, Dec 04, 2025, 5:11 PM UTC

Regarding Facebook is listening, my girlfriend and I was taking few years back around 2021, we usually keep our call for more than 24hrs at a time. One evening we were talking then suddenly we heard a man, talking as if he is in an office then we both stopped and listened, and he just stopped as if he accidentally unmuted. This happened again the next, night but this time it is a woman. Same, as if they were in an office environment. They were talking in English, we are not listening to anything, we were just talking then suddenly we heard them, and also we are not a native English speaker, we do not talk in English during our call. That is the the time we decided to switch to Signal, which as many say is more secure.

Re: Ask HN: Why does Facebook.com activate the microphone?

#9

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Dec 04, 2025, 11:36 PM UTC

pulvinar wrote: post #4

That's odd. ChatGPT (5.1) tells me Safari does not open an audio capture session for 'capability negotiation' that would show the mic icon. I assume you have Safari > Settings > Websites > Microphone > facebook.com set to the default "Ask", or to "Deny"? Also check any installed extensions.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Why does Facebook.com activate the microphone?

#10

Post by AstroNutt » Fri, Dec 05, 2025, 1:22 AM UTC

codegeek wrote: post #7

facebook is definitely listening. We have had many instances where wife and I discussed something and an ad appeared on fb related to that.

Right before the lockdown, my buddy and I were talking about repairing the dock at his Dad's lake house. We never searched online for anything, since between the two of us, we already had the materials on hand and both of us are mechanically inclined. It was just a random conversation in his office about what supplies we'd need to gather up for the weekend.

The very next day I was visiting Phys.org like I usually do and an ad appeared about dock supplies and repair. I don't even have Facebook and never have! He does and is kind of active on Facebook. Both of our phones were with us at the time of the conversation and I was connected to his WiFi network at the time. I'm on Android and he's on Apple user. Out of all the ads they could have pushed to me... dock repair!? I wish I still had that screenshot I sent him. It creeped us both out.