

Any of the people in here saying there’s no proof that apps access your microphone don’t understand that you don’t need microphone access to listen in. Something on your phone has mic access, so all an app needs is access to your RAM. If not your phone, your tv. Or any voice activated device nearby. Microphones are not ears, they can be significantly more sensitive.
Or an even simpler possibility, the companies are lying because there is no consequence.
I’m saying they try to. My specific version of e/os traps apps in a box and lies to their data requests if they pretend they need a permission I won’t give them.
Even without a specific app having mic access, it has RAM access, so if any other app does have mic access, the data can be skimmed as it’s passing through.
Facebook has been, and is currently being fined for ignoring privacy laws, and is known to have profiles on people who don’t use their services. How do they build those profiles if you never gave them permission?