So I do agree that if someone found out how to subvert iOS and Android’s sandboxing and also figured out a way to block the OS from showing the icon that your m

So I do agree that if someone found out how to subvert iOS and Android’s sandboxing and also figured out a way to block the OS from showing the icon that your mic is on, that FB or Google would guard the secret with their lives. But to assume they found it, and have kept it secret this long, and no one else has found any theoretical evidence it is possible… that’s too many highly improbable things to believe without just a hint of non-anecdote evidence. Law of large numbers (you talk about a lot of things, you see a lot of ads, there are a lot of people) says tons of these stories are real, but complete coincidence.