Facebook denied accusations that it is using your phone’s microphone to inform ads or to change what you see in News Feed. Some recent articles have suggested that Faceook has been listening to people’s conversations in order to show them relevant ads. The allegations have recently been voiced by Kelli Burns, a mass communication professor at the University of South Florida.

In her own testing, Professor Burns said that after discussing certain topics within earshot of her phone, she would then see ads relating to those topics on Facebook.

"This is not true. We show ads based on people’s interests and other profile information – not what you’re talking out loud about," Facebook said.

Facebook says it accesses your phone's 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 Facewbook introduced two years ago to include music or other audio in your status updates.