On the same day that Meta announced plans to utilize users’ AI chats for personalized advertising, Instagram head Adam Mosseri released a video addressing a long-standing rumor about the company’s practices. Mosseri stated, “I swear, we do not listen to your microphone,” as part of an effort to clarify misconceptions surrounding Meta’s advertising techniques.
Concerns over the accuracy of Meta’s ad targeting have grown as users report seeing ads for products they have only discussed verbally, leading to speculation that the company might be using device microphones to gather information. This perception has persisted despite previous denials from Meta. In 2016, the company stated it “does not use your phone’s microphone to inform ads or to change what you see in News Feed.” In a 2018 Senate hearing, CEO Mark Zuckerberg also firmly denied the allegations. Additionally, Meta’s support documentation asserts that it does not use microphones without user permission and only when a feature requiring the microphone is active.
In his recent video, Mosseri acknowledged the passionate discussions around this topic, including conversations with his wife. He reiterated that Meta does not listen to users, emphasizing that such actions would constitute a severe privacy violation and would deplete device battery life.
Mosseri provided alternative explanations for instances when users see ads related to recent conversations. He noted that individuals might have interacted with related content online prior to discussing it, advertisers may share user information for targeted ads, previous exposure to the ads may go unnoticed, or coincidences may occur.
Despite these clarifications, Mosseri expressed an understanding that skepticism regarding the company’s claims is likely to continue, citing user comments that reflect lingering doubts about transparency in Meta’s practices.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/789991/meta-instagram-microphone-listen-ads-targeting-adam-mosseri