Google, Facebook are spying on you? Here's what you can do

What if you find out someone has been listening to all your conversations? Creepy, isn't it? In the past, we've discussed how the new-age problems include the length at which Internet companies could go to target advertisements. A new report adds that Google could be recording your conversations even without your knowledge.

If the report by The Sun is to be believed then Google has turned your Android phones in to spying devices. The investigation has revealed that Google's Assistant listens to you every time you say 'Ok Google'. However, it sometimes is activated just by listening to the word 'Ok' (one of the most common words used everyday) and the digital assistant records 20 seconds of audio each time. 

It then uploads these files on cloud and easily accessible from anywhere in the world, adds the report. "We only process voice searches after the phone believes the hot word 'OK Google' is detected. Audio snippets are used by Google to improve the quality of speech recognition across Search," the Search giant told the news site in response.

How to check if Google is saving your private data and how to delete it

Users need to log into their Google/Gmail accounts and head to history.google.com/history. Then head to 'Activity Controls'. Under that, click on 'Web and App activity'. 

You will then see if Google has been saving your voice recordings, location, device information, YouTube searches and so on. To stop Google from saving your data in future, you will see a toggle with each section, and you need to simply uncheck it. You also also see what topics Google plans to throw at you. 

Similarly, mid of last year, there were reports around Facebook possibly listening to what you are saying. A warning from Kelli Burns, Mass communication professor at the University of South Florida had brought this to everyone's attention. Burns  that there could be a tool that listens to people's conversations, and the data could be used to target ads.

This report  that Facebook has acknowledged that it does listen to audio and collect information from users. However, they aren't combined and the sounds from people aren't used for advertising.

Facebook wrote a  explaining, "We only access your microphone if you have given our app permission and if you are actively using a specific feature that requires audio. This might include recording a video or using an optional feature we introduced two years ago to include music or other audio in your status updates."

So, Facebook has access to your microphone as 'you' give it the permission to listen when using features such as like capturing video. So, it's time you head to the settings and disable microphone (for iOS) , and enable it only when required. Similarly, Android users can head to App permissions and slide off the microphone option.

Another shocker was when WhatsApp changed its privacy policy, despite promising nothing will change post being acquired by Facebook. So, your 'WhatsApp data' is speculated to be used to target ads too. However, WhatsApp did give users the option to opt out. There is an option to opt out of some of the data sharing (specifically for ad and product purposes). However, many really read the terms and conditions, before clicking an 'ok' on the app policy? 

Furthermore, a new patent also suggests that the company could use technology to see your facial expressions. For example, if you look away from the screen when watching a particular video, it would stop showing you similar videos. If you smile while watching a particular content, it will display more of that. 

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