Do Google and Meta Really "Listen" to You?

The Official Line: “We Don’t Listen to You”

Both Google and Meta (the company behind Facebook and Instagram) publicly deny using your phone’s microphone to listen to conversations for ad targeting. They say they only access your mic when you give permission—like when using voice search or recording a video—and that any data collected is used to improve services, not serve ads.

That’s the official line. But the reality is far murkier.

So Why Are the Ads So Accurate?

The level of personal tracking these companies perform is staggering. Even without using your mic, they monitor:

• Your search history

• Websites you visit

• Locations you go

• The apps you use

• What you hover over or pause on

• What your friends and contacts engage with

They don’t just know what you do—they know who you associate with, what they’re interested in, and what kind of consumer you’re statistically similar to. So when you and your partner both browse for new furniture, even on separate devices, ads may start showing up based on shared data—even if you never typed a thing.

And if they were using the microphone for more than just voice commands… how would you know?

Surveillance Is the Business Model

Let’s be clear: Google and Meta make their money through advertising. The more they know about you, the more effectively they can sell you—your habits, preferences, fears, and desires—to advertisers. That’s not a bug; it’s the business model.

Whether or not they’re literally eavesdropping, the effect feels the same: you’re being watched, categorised, and targeted constantly.

It’s also worth noting that both companies have a history of pushing privacy boundaries:

• In 2019, it was revealed that Google and Amazon contractors were listening to voice assistant recordings—including accidental ones.

• Facebook has been repeatedly fined for privacy violations, including collecting data without user consent.

• Both companies have updated privacy policies in the past after questionable practices came to light—not before.

Taking Back Control

If you’re uncomfortable with this level of tracking (and you should be), here are a few things you can do:

• Review and limit microphone permissions for each app on your phone.

• Disable voice assistant features if you don’t use them.

• Use privacy-focused alternatives like DuckDuckGo, Signal, or Brave.

• Turn off personalised ads in your Google and Meta account settings.

• Use a VPN to obscure your online activity.

Final Thoughts

Maybe your phone isn’t “listening” in the traditional sense—but when platforms know where you go, what you click, who you talk to, and what your friends buy, do they really need to?

At the end of the day, it’s not about conspiracy—it’s about surveillance capitalism. The data trail you leave behind is more than enough for Big Tech to target you with astonishing precision. So whether they’re using your mic or not, the feeling of being watched isn’t in your head.

Because you are being watched. Constantly.

More Information

• Facebook partner admits to eavesdropping on conversations via phone mics for ad targeting
• Marketing firm admits using your own phone to listen in on your conversations
• Your phone isn’t secretly listening to you, but the truth is more disturbing