Each time you see a targeted ad, your personal information is exposed to thousands of advertisers and data brokers through a process called “real-time bidding” (RTB). This process does more than deliver ads—it fuels government surveillance, poses national security risks, and gives data brokers easy access to your online activity. RTB might be the most privacy-invasive surveillance system that you’ve never heard of.

What do these privacy violations have in common? They share a source of data that’s shockingly pervasive and unregulated: the technology powering nearly every ad you see online.

Each time you see a targeted ad, your personal information is exposed to thousands of advertisers and data brokers through a process called “real-time bidding” (RTB). This process does more than deliver ads—it fuels government surveillance, poses national security risks, and gives data brokers easy access to your online activity. RTB might be the most privacy-invasive surveillance system that you’ve never heard of.

  • D_Air1English
    1·
    7 hours ago

    Why is it that if they have this information and build these supposedly accurate profiles about you that they would still be willing to show ads at all to the kind of people who are likely to frequent this community? For example, if someone who runs linux, adblockers, firefox with strict profile, etc, etc is being broadcast to these advertisers. Why would they want to bid for advertising space for that person at all?

  • lemmeBe@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    3·
    9 hours ago

    “Each time you see a targeted ad…”

    Haven’t seen an add, targeted or targetless, for 10 years. 😁