Q) What is your opinion about the popular belief that our mobile devices are always listening to us? A) Here are different scenarios, from least to most probable: 1) Unless you're being bugged by the #RCMP, hackers or a hostile government, no, your cell phone is not constantly listening in on your conversations. 2) #Facebook, #Google and others don't do that, although in the past, there are "cases" of listening to phone & home assistants supposedly for quality assurance. 3) From a #marketing standpoint, they don't even need to listen! They already have plenty of information about our daily lives! Consider this simple scenario: ▪you go to a Sushi restaurant to meet some friends ▪one of these friends talks about his upcoming trip to Punta Cana ▪back home, you have some Punta Cana ads in your Facebook feed! ▪That's it! Facebook has been listening to your conversation! In reality, this is what is happening: a) you are Facebook friends b) geolocation is "always active" in the FB app, "when using the app" and FB app is open, or you scanned the now common QR codes to get the restaurant menu - which might lead to the presence of the Facebook pixel, thus, making a link between you (your phone), location, time, and telling FB you are a Sushi lover! c) you spent several minutes in a restaurant The chances that you talked about vacations are high! (some useful links in comment) #NoConsentNoTracking #digitalmarketing #dataprivacy #dataethics