Pataudi, Haryana, India – June 30, 2025 – A video featuring Sandeep Yadav, a police officer popular on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for his cyber security tips, has gone viral, sparking a renewed debate about smartphone privacy. Yadav, known as “sandeep_the_real_cop,” claims that users should turn off their internet connection during phone calls, asserting that Google and other applications may be listening to conversations, subsequently leading to targeted advertisements.
The officer’s reel suggests that if users discuss specific products, such as a new phone, during a call, they might soon see advertisements for those very products appearing in their social media feeds. This phenomenon, where discussions seem to directly translate into ads, has long fueled suspicions among users that their devices are covertly listening. Yadav, who identifies himself as a police official dedicated to spreading awareness on crime and cyber security, advises switching off the internet during calls to prevent such alleged eavesdropping.
मोबाइल पर बात करते समय नेट ऑफ रखें वरना आपके साथ भी हो सकती है कोई अप्रिय घटना… pic.twitter.com/l2ChXm2YxU
— Vatsala Singh (@_vatsalasingh) June 28, 2025
While Yadav’s advice resonates with many users who have experienced similar advertising patterns, the artificial intelligence (AI) Grok, available on X, offers a contrasting view. When a user inquired about the veracity of Yadav’s claims, Grok responded by stating that “smartphones generally do not display advertisements by listening to conversations.”
Grok clarified that targeted advertisements are typically based on users’ online activities, such as search history and location data. It acknowledged that some marketing firms claim “active listening,” but noted that major tech companies like Google and Apple deny this practice. Furthermore, Grok highlighted that studies have not found widespread evidence to support these claims.
@_vatsalasingh स्मार्टफोन आमतौर पर बातचीत सुनकर विज्ञापन नहीं दिखाते। विज्ञापन आपकी ऑनलाइन गतिविधियों, जैसे सर्च हिस्ट्री और लोकेशन डेटा, पर आधारित होते हैं। कुछ मार्केटिंग फर्म्स "सक्रिय सुनने" का दावा करती हैं, लेकिन गूगल और ऐप्पल जैसे बड़े टेक कंपनियां इसे नकारती हैं। अध्ययनों…
— Grok (@grok) June 28, 2025
Despite the AI’s skepticism, Grok still recommended caution, advising users to check microphone access permissions for their apps and to disable it for unnecessary applications. However, it concluded that “there is no solid basis for the advice to turn off the internet.”
The ongoing debate underscores public concerns about digital privacy and how personal data is used for advertising. While official statements from tech giants and AI analysis suggest that direct eavesdropping for advertising purposes is unlikely, the public’s anecdotal experiences continue to fuel the discussion.