[ricardobeat]

The lack of actual responses to your question here is a bit entertaining. "Of course they are not", "it's not possible", "iOS/Android is safe" etc. Almost like it is offensive to ask.

I can't help but remember my incredulous reaction to ECHELON in the 90s and how it turned out to be not just true, but much worse than the original "conspiracy theory".

A very relevant example: https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/handle/1774.2/36569

[semperdark]

This post was built to influence the largest number of people possible. The title is worded to reach people that don't click with the suggestion that the accepted view in the community is that they aren't spying. It's also by a newly-created account made by a Facebook Ads employee.

The microphone privacy invasion rumor has spread so far without evidence because people are tired of the 1000 other privacy invasions for which there is evidence. They don't care whether or not this specific instance is true. People are tired of FB being openly scummy at every other turn. FB is the least respected tech company for a reason.

[momeunier]

Happy to debunk this in whichever way you want! I definitely don't work for Facebook. Also I have been consuming HN content for years without contributing. There has to be a first day...

I do work closely with Facebook (For a Facebook Marketing Partner called Smartly.io) and we collaborate closely on certain aspects. I think I have a very deep understanding of what Facebook is capable of and that's the reason why I want to debunk this. Also, I am really tired of hearing the questionable reports.

Look me up if you which: https://www.linkedin.com/in/momeunier/

[cryoshon]

can't help but agree with you.

people are scrambling to debunk an ill-defined phenomenon that's only exists anecdotally... and in the realm of those who ask "qui bono?"

who benefits if "facebook is listening"? what are the incentives?

the question of technical possibility is the first place people will go to... without realizing that if there is a will, there is a way.

[superbrama]

Few question the feasibility of building a mechanism. The question is whether they’d try to hide any such mechanism in plain sight.

Native apps on a phone are not comparable to government spying on networks outside of your control. The attack vector in this case is entirely within the device in possession: the code, and interactions with the OS and hardware.

Entertaining the opposing view: If fb did build this, how is there no hard evidence of it? On iOS, their code is distributed via Apple, so they couldn’t doctor versions for specific users, and any attempt to build self modifying or self deleting mechanisms would be detected sooner or later for similar reasons.

[superbrama]

That’s not what’s happening. There’s no hard evidence and it’s not really a fair comparison between detecting government snooping on networks out of your control, versus a spyware mechanism hidden in plain sight, entirely in your pocket.

Nobody seems to be doubting the feasibility of building such spyware but rather are asking where’s the hard evidence and how could they get away with it (not legally necessarily but in terms of detection)?