【2009 Archives】

To hear Facebook tell it009 Archives no one at the company is secretly using your phone's microphone to listen in on your conversations for the purpose of ad targeting.

But that doesn't mean they aren't open to the possibility.

A patent application filed by the Menlo Park-based company details a convoluted process to trigger users' devices to record the ambient audio surrounding them — be that your conversation or the sounds in your bedroom — and then send some form of data based on that recording back to the company.

And yeah, it's creepy as hell.

SEE ALSO: People think Facebook is listening to them. Here's how they're fighting back.

The application, first reported by Metro, was published on June 14 and lays out how Facebook might remotely turn on your phone's mic to start recording. Essentially, Facebook would embed high-pitched audio signals in "broadcast content" (think TV ads) that would be inaudible to humans. But whereas our ears wouldn't be able to discern it, "a client device" such as your phone would be able to hear it.

That signal would instruct your phone to record the "ambient audio" surrounding it, and then send an "ambient audio fingerprint" back to Facebook for analysis.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

"The online system, based on the ambient audio data, identifies the corresponding individual and content item and logs an impression for the content item upon determination that there was an impression of the identified content item by the identified individual," explains the application abstract.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Facebook, when reached for comment, claimed it has no intention of ever actually implementing the technology described in the application. Which, of course, makes one wonder why it bothered to apply for a patent on it in the first place.

Thankfully, Facebook VP and Deputy General Counsel Allen Lo is here to clear that up.

“It is common practice to file patents to prevent aggression from other companies," Lo said in a statement to Mashable. "Because of this, patents tend to focus on future-looking technology that is often speculative in nature and could be commercialized by other companies."

Phew! Facebook is just doing this to protect us from othercompanies that may eventually want to record us through our phones' microphones. That sounds ... believable.

But just in case you have any doubts about Facebook's true motives, Lo is here to insist that the company would totally never use this tech that it's trying to patent. Never.

"The technology in this patent has not been included in any of our products," he explained, "and never will be."

There, don't you feel better already? I mean, we can trust Lo — it's not like Facebook has a history of misleading its users or anything.

---

Featured Video For You

---

Watch Zuckerberg’s face freeze after a far-right politician credited Facebook for Trump's win and Brexit

---

Topics Cybersecurity Facebook Privacy Social Media

• Shopping
• Social Good
• Digital Culture
• Entertainment
• Deals
• Science
• Games
• Tech

• Waymo data shows humans are terrible drivers compared to AI
• Halloween 2024: Weekend debates, obscure memes, and a legacy of racism
• Saoirse Ronan responds to her viral 'Graham Norton Show' moment
• Today's Hurdle hints and answers for October 31
• NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for April 26: Tips to solve Connections #215
• ChatGPT Search is now live. Here's how to use it.
• Al Ittihad vs. Al Ahli 2024 livestream: Watch Saudi Pro League for free
• These AI recipe generators will spice up your meals
• The Story Behind the Home of Forgotten Video Games
• 'The Gutter' review: The right kind of stupid

• French officials investigating if Apple devices played a role in 2016 EgyptAir crash
• White House staff wants to vet Trump's tweets —good luck with that
• 'The Get
• Jupiter is the gigantic, stormy hellscape we always feared
• DJI is requiring owners to register their drones... or else
• Inspiring teen who survived the Manchester attack is live
• It is really hard to be a farm
• Hackers just gave you another reason to hate vaping
• T.J. Miller is leaving 'Silicon Valley' so what's the point anymore?
• Little girl accuses teacher of committing a war crime in teacher evaluation. Casual.

• The 10 Most Anticipated PC Games of 2016
• 'Janet Planet' review: Annie Baker's mother
• Arkadium mini crossword answers for November 1
• Best iPad deal: Save $130 on Apple iPad (9th Gen)
• NYT Connections hints and answers for April 26: Tips to solve 'Connections' #685.
• iPad Air vs. iPad Pro: What are the differences between the new 2024 models?
• 4 futuristic AI features now common in home security devices
• Best Amazon tablet deal: Save $65 on Fire HD 10 tablet
• Your 'wrong person' texts may be linked to Myanmar warlord
• Best kitchen deals: Save up to 50% on Ninja appliances at Amazon

• NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for May 18: Tips to solve Connections #237
• Saoirse Ronan responds to her viral 'Graham Norton Show' moment
• ChatGPT Search is now live. Here's how to use it.
• Today's Hurdle hints and answers for November 1
• NYT Strands hints, answers for May 2
• Best drawing tablet deal: Save over $40 on Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
• NYT Connections hints and answers for October 31: Tips to solve 'Connections' #508.
• 'Janet Planet' review: Annie Baker's mother
• Testing Windows 10 Performance Before and After the Meltdown Flaw Emergency Patch
• Best Apple Pencil deal: Get the Apple Pencil pro for under $100 at Amazon