The apps need permission to the microphone for that and in background it would drain the battery and constantly show the microphone is accessed unless you are using an old android version. It is likely easy though to eavesdrop when the app is opened and using microphone is an expected functionality, and to pick up keywords and the sounds emitted from other sources to better know location and social graphs without GPS access.
Nowadays even calculators have terms of service and a privacy policy that is longer than many novels. Some probably have forced arbitration also.
Not complying with DMCA takedowns in EU would hurt American tech related companies way more than all of these fines combined.
I liked that in the beginning of The Boys it was mostly normal humans approaching supers with creativity. In later seasons it seems more like superheroes against supervillains with some normal people on each side. Like a marvel series but with gore and obscenities.
Google itself as of this moment never did put adds on a lock screen, it is the manufacturer or third party apps who can do it. Some Realme and Xiaomi phones do it afaik and probably some other brands.
Apple and its consequences on computing world…
I can not deny that it changed the smartphone industry big time but it was not for the best in my opinion. I understand Apple products appeal for some people though, they have subjectively good design for some, and are objectively very stable and easy to use for a non techie. My issues are how closed IOS is, the overall paradigm of domestication of users, being very anti repair and on average more expensive.
It is good to use linux. But this has an impact on everyone to some degree. You may use Linux, but does your family, friends, your doctor, your teacher or boss, and whoever else who has some of your personal data?