Are Major Tech Companies Spying on Our Phones? Shocking Report Provides Answers

Many social media users report noticing that advertisements shown to them are directly related to conversations they had just moments before.

major technology companies

The long-standing suspicions about major tech companies spying on people are now more likely to be true, following revelations from leaked information. These companies reportedly possess technologies capable of conducting surveillance, specifically for advertising purposes. This explains a phenomenon frequently mentioned by users: after discussing a topic with their phone nearby, they soon see ads related to that very subject.

Many social media users have observed that the ads appearing on their devices seem connected to recent conversations, searches, or even phone calls with friends or businesses.

In the latest piece of evidence supporting these claims, the British newspaper Daily Mail published a report reviewed by Al Arabiya, revealing that leaked documents confirm the existence of such technologies within major companies like Facebook and Google. Moreover, these practices are conducted legally, as outlined in the user agreements that everyone consents to when downloading apps.

Meta

Facebook and Google Implicated

According to the Daily Mail, a presentation by a Facebook marketing partner details how the company allegedly eavesdrops on user conversations to generate targeted ads.

A company specializing in marketing, CMG, claims that its program Active-Listening employs artificial intelligence to collect and analyze "real-time intent data" by listening to what is said through your phone, laptop, or smart home assistant microphone.

The promotional material states, "Advertisers can combine this voice data with behavioral data to target consumers in the market." CMG claims that companies like Facebook, Google, and Amazon are its clients, indicating that these tech giants might be using the service to target users with ads.

This presentation was leaked to reporters at 404 Media, showing how CMG's Active-Listening technology operates, seemingly to attract more clients.

This photo illustration, taken on March 22, 2018, shows apps for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social networks displayed on a smartphone in New Delhi. (AFP

After the story broke, Google removed CMG from its Partner Program on its website, according to the Daily Mail.

In a statement, a Meta spokesperson said: "Meta does not use your phone’s microphone for ads, and we’ve been open about this for years. We are engaging with CMG to clarify that their program does not rely on Meta data."

Amazon also responded to inquiries from 404 Media, stating that its advertising division has "never worked with CMG on this program and has no plans to do so." However, they did suggest that if one of their marketing partners violates their policies, action would be taken, leaving Amazon's exact relationship with CMG somewhat unclear.

The leaked report outlines a six-step process used by CMG’s Active-Listening program to collect consumer voice data through any device with a microphone, such as smartphones, laptops, or smart home assistants.

It remains unclear from the report whether the Active-Listening program is continuously eavesdropping or only activates during specific moments, such as when a phone's microphone is in use during a call.

Advertisers then use these insights to target in-market consumers—people who are actively considering purchasing a product or service. If your voice data or behavior indicates you're thinking about buying something, they’ll show you ads related to that item.

For example, if you discuss or search for Toyota cars, you may soon start seeing ads for the latest models.