Facebook app listens in the background for targeting ads
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Re: Facebook app listens in the background for targeting ads
#2Any relatives that have cats? Pictures where you were tagged had cats?
Re: Facebook app listens in the background for targeting ads
#3I have heard reports of incidents similar to this one from several of my friends. There is some undeniable "spookiness" going on. It may or may not be Facebook using the mic.
There are possible confounds:
1. The algo's are that good, meaning that the spookiness is explained by them having other data (say about your peer group) and then knew that you wanted that gourmet coffee press that you and your wife talked about, before you talked about it.
2. We may be unaware of the sheer number of times we are being targeted on the web.
So add in a salience factor where you are targeted millions of times, by pretty good algos, and then only notice the ones where there is that coincidence that lead to a feeling a "spookiness."
I am sure that explains some of these... but I am still left unsure about the mic issue!
Re: Facebook app listens in the background for targeting ads
#4See also current discussion about this topic:
Re: Facebook app listens in the background for targeting ads
#5Doesn’t seem likely unless Apple is working with Facebook to surreptitiously activate your microphone, which is highly unlikely.
Re: Facebook app listens in the background for targeting ads
#6Doesn’t seem likely unless Apple is working with Facebook to surreptitiously activate your microphone, which is highly unlikely.
The Facebook app asks for permission to access your camera and microphone. Assuming a user gives it access, doesn't that mean they have free rein to do so?
Re: Facebook app listens in the background for targeting ads
#7 I just assume that it's more likely than not that a company like Facebook will listen surreptitiously whether I like it or not
Re: Facebook app listens in the background for targeting ads
#8I had 2 instances where this happened to me recently. Once was with Twitter and once with Facebook.
Mentioned Disney parks in a conversation in the car with my parents and the next day had Disney ads, never before.
About 2 days ago was talking about night guards for teeth with someone and the next day had Invisalign ads on Facebook.
I don't have the Facebook app installed, but do have the messenger app. I just turned off microphone access to the app and now it won't let me take pictures in-app.
Re: Facebook app listens in the background for targeting ads
#9Doesn’t seem likely unless Apple is working with Facebook to surreptitiously activate your microphone, which is highly unlikely.
The Facebook app asks for permission to access your camera and microphone. Assuming a user gives it access, doesn't that mean they have free rein to do so?
IIUC, apps that use the microphone in iOS make a red bar appear at the top (as if you were in a phone call) when you’re not in the app. For this not to be the case with Messenger, Apple would have to collude with Facebook.
Re: Facebook app listens in the background for targeting ads
#10If people really think that's the case why don't they uninstall facebook immediately?