The largest social network Facebook is constantly listening in to conversations of its users.
Kelli Burns, mass communication professor at the University of South Florida, has carried out a research and found out that the Facebook app has unlimited access to cell phone's microphone, the Independent reported.
The professor decided to discuss some issues in course of a phone conversation. After that, relevant advertisement appeared on Facebook.
Facebook in its turn, refuted usage of a smartphone microphone other than intended. Designers refer to a function which is available now only in the US: a user may allow the app to define music or film which is on in his room while writing a message.
Facebook insists that the microphone is switched on only when the user allows to do it and as writing posts. "Facebook does not use microphone audio to inform advertising or News Feed stories in any way. Businesses are able to serve relevant ads based on people's interests and other demographic information, but not through audio collection," a spokesman claimed.
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