Is your phone listening? Marketing firm confirms tech behind targeted ads

For years, people have noticed advertisements for products they recently discussed in conversation—even without searching for them online—suddenly appear on their devices. While many dismissed this as a coincidence or attributed it to targeted advertising based on online searches, it turns out there’s more to the story. According to a report by 404 Media, a marketing firm has confirmed that smartphones are not just tracking users’ online activity—they are also listening to what you say out loud, near your phone.