Meta’s Head of Instagram Addresses Persistent Eavesdropping Rumors
On October 1, 2025, Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, released a video aimed at debunking a long-standing myth regarding Meta’s advertising practices, asserting, “I swear, we do not listen to your microphone,” amid increasing scrutiny over privacy concerns, reports 24brussels.
During an announcement earlier in the day, Meta revealed plans to utilize users’ AI chats for personalized advertising, a move likely to intensify debates surrounding data privacy. Mosseri’s video sought to clarify the methods behind Meta’s precise ad targeting, which often leads users to believe their private conversations are being monitored.
Historically, Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has faced allegations of eavesdropping. In 2016, the company categorically denied using phone microphones to inform its ads or influence users’ content in their News Feeds. CEO Mark Zuckerberg reiterated this denial during a 2018 Senate hearing, directly stating “no” when asked if Facebook listens to users’ conversations.
In the video, Mosseri acknowledged having recurring discussions about the issue, including conversations with his wife. “We do not listen to you,” he emphasized. He added that listening through a phone’s microphone would represent “a gross violation of privacy” and would ultimately drain device batteries.
To further illustrate transparency, Mosseri provided several reasons why individuals might receive ads for products discussed in casual conversations. He posited that users may have previously interacted with those products online, advertisers may target similar user profiles, prior exposure to the ad may be unnoticed, or sheer coincidence may play a role.
“One, maybe you actually tapped on something that was related or even searched for that product online on a website, maybe before you had that conversation… Two, we show people ads that we think they’re interested in, or products we think they’re interested in… Three, you might have actually seen that ad before you had a conversation and not realized it… Four, random chance, coincidence, it happens,” Mosseri stated.
Despite his attempts to clarify, Mosseri anticipated skepticism from the public. “I know some of you are just not going to believe me, no matter how much I try to explain it,” he remarked. Indeed, the video has drawn mixed reactions, with many commentators expressing doubt about the explanations provided, with one prominent comment suggesting, “That is exactly what I would say if I was listening to people’s conversations.”
