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Is your phone listening to you?

When ads pop up on your phone for products after you've happened to mention them, is it an indication that advertisers are eavesdropping on you? Correspondent David Pogue checks out the facts about highly-targeted advertising, and why it sometimes gets weirdly specific.

Published April 12, 2026, 1:54 PM
Updated April 12, 2026, 2:34 PM2.1K
Is your phone listening to you?

When ads pop up on your phone for products after you've happened to mention them, is it an indication that advertisers are eavesdropping on you? Correspondent David Pogue checks out the facts about highly-targeted advertising, and why it sometimes gets weirdly specific.

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