Are they listening to mics? That is constantly debated/debunked. But yes...geolocation, networks you log to, phones you are near, what you search. That all s

Are they listening to mics? That is constantly debated/debunked. But yes...geolocation, networks you log to, phones you are near, what you search. That all seems to play a part. Linkedin has in the past for me suggested connections based on the wifi I was using. Someone who I don't have common friends or career as and I was getting their contacts as suggestions just after using the same wifi. I have no facebook account...but it seems every phone I buy has it preinstalled. To me I have long assumed this was going on. With the number of sensors and the capability to have a near constant data connection it boils down to "if they can...they will". But as a good friend of mine says "I thought this was what we wanted". People seem to enjoy that the first button they see when they log in is the button they were actually looking for. (not saying everyone...some take security/privacy very serious...but the flame is bright for the masses). I constantly have ads served to me for something that has been discussed in the room near me...or topics I would never have an interest in but the conversation was happening near me. My assumption is someone I was near enough for my phone to "see" their MAC address (if via common wifi or if it is adhoc...doesn't matter) and they searched the terms later. I have become so used to this it has stopped bothering me. The real concerns I have are when I start getting served ads for things like Cancer or other medical treatments. It makes me say in my head "Does the bot know something I don't? Is there some sort of symptom I am having and the AI has picked up on it before me?" At any rate...welcome to the future. Accept that tracking is a thing. I don't personally see a way to force the companies who have already become some of the biggest in the world by storing/selling data that they need to stop. Even through regulation. My personal opinion is we have passed the point of no return...it is the new normal until "the great reset" which will take a near extinction level event to force us back.