Facebook could be listening in on ALL of our phone calls… but there’s a simple way to stop them
An expert has revealed that the social media site may be using people's microphones to collect their data
FACEBOOK could be listening into all your conversations in order to collect data about what users are talking about, claims an expert.
Kelli Burns, a communications professor at the University of South Florida, has warned users that the social media site could be tracking what you're saying.
Facebook says the app only earwigs in order to discover what people are listening to or watching so they can suggest they post about it.
But, Professor Burns has claimed that the feature, which has been available for a couple of years, is using the audio it receives to promote relevant advertising to users as opposed to helping them.
The communications expert also conducted her own test in which she discussed certain topics and was presented with relevant adverts.Although Professor Burns isn't completely convinced Facebook is listening into our conversations - perhaps she had searched the similar topics herself - she claims it wouldn't be too surprising if the company were.
The claims are supported by other Facebook users who say they've been presented with adverts that promote things they've mentioned in passing.
But the social media network clarify that while they do listen to audio from users, they deny reports that they show adverts based on conversations.
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"Facebook does not use microphone audio to inform advertising or News Feed stories in any way," a spokesperson told The Independent.
"Businesses are able to serve relevant ads based on people’s interests and other demographic information, but not through audio collection."
Currently the feature, which was launched in 2014, is only available in the US but the company has faced controversy over it for a number of years.
But they have always responded by arguing that the device isn't "always listening" and they never store any "raw audio".
Fortunately, for those users who are worried about having their conversations recorded, turning off the microphone settings is fairly simple.
How to turn off the feature:
If you're using an iPhone select Settings > Privacy > Switch off Microphone.
And with Androids select Settings > Privacy > Change the permissions of the Facebook app.