How Facebook could be spying on you using your phone

By Team Asianet Newsable | First Published Jun 13, 2017, 7:39 PM IST

Facebook has access to your microphone as 'you' give it the permission to listen. 
WhatsApp changed its privacy policy to share 'some' data with Facebook. 

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 mentioned that there could be a tool that listens to people's conversations, and the data could be used to target ads.

In the past too, there has been speculation around Facebook listening to what people say in passing reference and then target advertisements based on it. This report adds 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.

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Facebook wrote a post 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, and enable it only when required.

Another shocker is when WhatsApp changed its privacy policy, despite promising nothing will change post being acquired by Facebook. "WhatsApp is part of the Facebook family of companies, and sharing some information allows us to coordinate more and improve experiences across our services and those of Facebook and the Facebook family," it had said.

So, those conversations could 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?

Now, reports about Facebook spying on users or rather preparing to spy on users have surfaced, yet again. A new patent clearly 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.

But, how many are comfortable with your phone camera watching your every move. It couldn't get creepier than this. This reminds us Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's photo posing with an Instagram cut-out while the backdrop showed his desk. The news about his laptop's webcam and mic covered with tape flooded the Internet. And, we all thought he is just paranoid, like most of us.

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