yes, basically your browser settings aka google, chrome foxfire what ever browser you are using is telling them to pick ads according of what you search for, pictures/memes you searched, things you have liked/ love or reacted to on facebook or other social media.

if you dont want local ads and dont want ads selected based on your internet activity go in to your browser setting. example on chrome settings are found inside the menu (those three dots in a line at the top of the browser page next to the head/ avatar picture/ user picture. in there read down until you see the word settings. after in settings go down to personalize your web experience. turn off the button under that, that says ....

"Improve your web experience by allowing Microsoft to use your browsing history from this account for personalizing advertising, search, news and other Microsoft services"

you may also need to click into your microsoft privacy dashboard (you will see a link to that also in this same settings area of personalize your web experience.)

in other words its not the computer automatically spying or keeping track of your data. its how you have your settings set.