http://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2016/06/07/facebook...
FWIW, the DTEK app on the Blackberry Priv tracks permissions usages. My FB app has never accessed the microphone, but it does track my location every 7 minutes. Still creepy.
Or you can be linked by the recorded sound.
I suggest conducting an experiment: speak to your girlfriend (away from your phones) and establish a list of highly specific subjects/products. Then, bring these subjects up in conversation when near the phone(s). If what you're saying is true, they should start popping up in the Facebook ads.
Combine that with permission models on most devices that alert the user when the microphone is turned on, I cannot see Facebook doing this secretly.
Also, just think about all the things that your girlfriend said around her phone that hasn't turned up in Facebook ads. I'm willing to chalk this up to a weird coincidence or other reasons mentioned here.
Maybe they should sue Samsung & FB tandem for listening to conversations, write them a fine the size of small country budget. Make it useful even if just once.