Tag

Adtech

All articles tagged with #adtech

Smart TVs Are Turning Into Data Traps for Ads
privacy23 days ago

Smart TVs Are Turning Into Data Traps for Ads

Smart TVs are increasingly becoming data-collection devices as a sprawling network of ad-tech vendors tracks viewers through cookies, device IDs, IPs, precise/non-precise location, and user profiles. The article catalogs hundreds of vendors with cookie lifetimes spanning from days to years, notes some vendors don’t use cookies or rely on other storage, and highlights pervasive cross-device tracking and potential privacy risks for households. Viewers may need to adjust privacy settings or limit ad tracking on their TVs to curb data collection.

Cookie Avalanche: Ad-Tech Trackers Spill Data Practices
technology1 month ago

Cookie Avalanche: Ad-Tech Trackers Spill Data Practices

The Register catalogs a massive roster of ad-tech vendors and their cookie usage, showing a wide patchwork of data collection and storage practices—from IP addresses, device IDs, and precise locations to user profiles and authentication-derived identifiers—often tied to long cookie lifespans (sometimes years) and various legal bases (consent or legitimate interest). A notable number rely on additional storage methods, and a few vendors claim not to use cookies, underscoring the sprawling, opaque ecosystem behind online tracking.

OS age gates collide with an ad-tech cookie avalanche
technology2 months ago

OS age gates collide with an ad-tech cookie avalanche

The Register reports that OS-level age verification attempts are tangled in a sprawling ad-tech ecosystem that relies on long-lived cookies and other storage to track users. The piece catalogs numerous vendors and their data practices—collecting IPs, device IDs, precise locations, and user profiles—with cookie lifetimes spanning months to years. Some vendors claim not to use cookies or rely on alternative storage, but the overall landscape shows pervasive data collection that undermines robust age checks and raises privacy concerns about how age gates are implemented and monitored.

Trade Desk Bets on Growth, Expands Buyback Plan
business2 months ago

Trade Desk Bets on Growth, Expands Buyback Plan

Trade Desk reported 2025 revenue of $2.9B (+18% YoY), GAAP net income of $443M, and adjusted EBITDA of $1.2B (41% margin) on $13.4B gross spend with customer retention above 95%. It expanded buyback capacity to $500M after about $1.4B of repurchases in 2025 and gave Q1 2026 guidance of at least $678M in revenue and ~$195M in adjusted EBITDA. The company highlighted ongoing identity, retail data, and connected-TV initiatives in ad tech; analysts rate TTD as a Hold with a $23 target.

The ad-tech cookie web: a comprehensive snapshot of rivals' tracking data
privacy3 months ago

The ad-tech cookie web: a comprehensive snapshot of rivals' tracking data

The Register compiles a sweeping inventory of third-party ad-tech vendors (TCF and others), detailing each vendor's cookie usage, durations, and data collection practices. The list shows cookie lifetimes ranging from days to multiple years, and data collected including IP addresses, device identifiers, location data, user profiles, and authentication-derived identifiers. It notes whether vendors use other storage, and whether they rely on legitimate interests or consent, with several vendors not using cookies or using alternative storage. The piece underscores how pervasive and varied online tracking is across the ad ecosystem.

Nudity-focused apps slip past store checks via a sprawling ad-tech network
technology3 months ago

Nudity-focused apps slip past store checks via a sprawling ad-tech network

The Register reports that Nudify-style apps evade Google Play and Apple App Store moderation by routing content and monetization through a vast web of advertising and tracking vendors. The piece catalogs numerous ad-tech providers and their data practices—collecting IPs, device IDs, precise location, user profiles, and more—highlighting how this ecosystem can enable illicit content to slip through reviews while raising significant privacy concerns for users.

Canva Counted Among ~100 Victims in Shiny Hunters Credential theft
technology3 months ago

Canva Counted Among ~100 Victims in Shiny Hunters Credential theft

The Register reports that Canva is among about 100 targets affected by the Shiny Hunters credential-theft operation, with the piece listing numerous advertising-tech vendors and the types of data and cookies involved. The broad scope underscores a sizable attack surface across the ad-tech ecosystem and highlights the need for strong credential hygiene and monitoring for suspicious activity across partnered platforms.

App Store apps leak user data to global ad-tech networks
technology4 months ago

App Store apps leak user data to global ad-tech networks

A report shows a large swath of apps in the App Store transmit users’ data to a sprawling array of advertising and tracking vendors. Collected data include IP addresses, device identifiers, probabilistic IDs, location (precise and non-precise), browsing and interaction data, and user profiles, with many vendors using cookies for extended periods (months to years) or other storage. Consent models vary, some vendors claim legitimate interest while others state they don’t use cookies, and privacy policies differ across providers. The result is data flowing from millions of users to numerous ad-tech networks, underscoring privacy concerns about cross-app data sharing and the transparency of storage and consent practices.

Judge's Verdict Looms as Google Faces Monopoly Allegations in Ad Tech Trial
technology1 year ago

Judge's Verdict Looms as Google Faces Monopoly Allegations in Ad Tech Trial

The Department of Justice's trial against Google over its alleged ad tech monopoly concluded with closing arguments, where the DOJ accused Google of unfairly dominating three markets by controlling ad auctions and disadvantaging competitors. The DOJ argued that Google's practices harmed publishers, but the judge noted a lack of direct evidence from advertisers and questioned the absence of testimony on better competing products. Google's defense highlighted these gaps in the DOJ's case.

"Google's Shift Away from Third-Party Cookies: Impact and Readiness for Advertisers and Users"
technology-and-business2 years ago

"Google's Shift Away from Third-Party Cookies: Impact and Readiness for Advertisers and Users"

Google is proceeding with major changes to online user tracking, phasing out the use of cookies—a staple in the $600 billion online advertising industry. Despite the lengthy lead-up to this shift, advertisers are still unprepared for the new landscape, which will significantly alter how they target ads to consumers. This move is part of a broader push for increased internet user privacy.

"Facebook's 'Link History' Sparks Privacy Concerns and Ad Targeting Debates"
technology-and-privacy2 years ago

"Facebook's 'Link History' Sparks Privacy Concerns and Ad Targeting Debates"

Facebook has introduced a new feature called 'Link History' in its app, which tracks the links users click on and stores them in a repository. This feature is enabled by default, and while it offers some visibility and control over link tracking, it also raises privacy concerns. Meta, Facebook's parent company, has been tracking user link clicks for over a decade and uses JavaScript to monitor user activity on websites. Critics argue that this feature is another way for Facebook to gather data for personalized ads, despite increasing legal scrutiny over data privacy practices. Users can opt out of 'Link History,' but the feature does not affect Meta's data collection on other platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp.