Instagram chief Adam Mosseri has publicly denied claims that the platform secretly listens to users through their phone microphones to deliver targeted ads. The statement comes as Meta prepares to expand its advertising strategy by using data from user interactions with its artificial intelligence tools.
In a post shared on Instagram, Mosseri called the microphone spying theory an “age-old conspiracy” and said it is simply not true. He admitted that even his own wife has questioned how ads on Instagram often feel so accurate, but stressed that secretly recording conversations would be a major violation of user privacy.
The timing of his comments follows Meta’s recent announcement that ads on Instagram and Facebook will soon be shaped by how users engage with the company’s AI products. By analyzing behavior, interests, and online interactions, Meta says its technology can already predict what content people are likely to find relevant, without relying on microphones.
Still, many users remain suspicious. Countless people have shared experiences of discussing a product with friends and then seeing it appear in their Instagram feed shortly afterward. For them, the coincidence feels too sharp to dismiss.
Meta has consistently denied the microphone theory, arguing that its advanced targeting systems are what make ads appear so precise. Privacy experts, however, note that while conversations may not be recorded, the company’s reliance on massive amounts of user data can still feel intrusive.
Mosseri acknowledged this unease, admitting that Meta’s technology can feel invasive even without hidden surveillance. For now, the company is sticking to its message: targeted ads come from data and AI, not from eavesdropping on conversations.
