Instagram Head Denies Meta Listens to Microphones Amid AI Data Ad Targeting Plans

Instagram head Adam Mosseri has publicly denied the persistent conspiracy theory that Meta secretly listens to users through their phone microphones to target advertisements. He explained that such covert listening would quickly drain device batteries and trigger microphone indicators, making it easily noticeable. Mosseri emphasized that Meta’s advanced ad targeting relies on algorithms, advertiser data sharing, and AI-driven analysis of user interactions rather than audio surveillance. The company will soon use data from users' interactions with its AI products to further personalize ads, a move that has reignited privacy concerns but does not involve microphone eavesdropping. This denial aligns with Meta's previous statements, including Mark Zuckerberg's congressional testimony, asserting that the company does not collect audio data for ad targeting. Mosseri also suggested that users' perception of ads being eerily relevant often stems from their own search histories and social media behavior rather than any form of listening.