On October 3, 2023, Google released an announcement entitled “New Gmail protections for a safer, less spammy inbox.” By February 2024, Google will require bulk senders to authenticate their emails, allow for easy unsubscription and stay under a reported spam threshold. “…[T]oday, we’re introducing new requirements for bulk senders — those who send more than … Read more
We’ve seen many things: rogue ads, accidental viral campaigns, and the occasional hard-rock hamster video (don’t ask). But every now and then, something comes along that truly makes us sit up – and not always for the right reasons. Enter Juniper Research and their recent ad fraud report. Research 101: Always share your methodology. It’s … Read more
Here me out: I know why ad fraud is so pervasive, and how to stop it. Now, the concealed adversary, known as Ad Fraud, operates in the shadows, relentlessly draining the financial lifeblood of marketers and advertisers who navigate the complex territories of major platforms like Meta and Google. But this doesn’t have to be. … Read more
Nandini Jammi is not your typical activist. She doesn’t march on the streets, hold up signs, or chant slogans. She doesn’t even have a catchy name for her cause. She just has a laptop, a Twitter account, and a mission: to stop the flow of money from advertisers to publishers of hate speech and disinformation. … Read more
The truth remains: digital empires rise and fall like tides, but YouTube has long held the crown as the biggest seller of online ad space. Yet, as the dust settles one month after a seismic revelation, the titan of video-sharing finds itself ensnared in a whirlwind of controversy. The stage for this drama was set … Read more
Yeah, transparency and ethics have long been hot-button issues. The rise of digital advertising platforms has brought these concerns to the forefront, as companies seek to engage users while staying within the bounds of the law. One company that’s recently made headlines for its approach to advertising is X, formerly known as Twitter. This social … Read more
A pervasive threat lurks beneath the glossy surface, ensnaring marketing budgets, eroding trust, and redefining the very essence of return on investment: We’re talking about programmatic ad fraud—a cunning game played in the shadows, where bots and automated systems orchestrate an elaborate dance of deception, siphoning off billions from advertisers’ pockets. As we stand on … Read more
Where algorithms dictate the destiny of brands and campaigns, a series of revelations has shaken the foundation of trust in the promises made by tech giants: Nestled within the sprawling realm of YouTube, this story unravels the enigma surrounding behaviorally targeted advertisements that appear to have surreptitiously infiltrated channels specifically earmarked as “made for kids.” … Read more
Despite all the digital deception and corporate doubletalk, one truth has been glaringly illuminated in the past month: Google’s failings in the realm of child safety are a stain on their reputation. Dr. Augustine Fou, a seasoned digital researcher, put it aptly when he remarked, “It’s been a terrible month for Google.” The narrative of … Read more
Where every pixel holds a promise of profit, a sinister underworld thrives – Made for Advertising (MFA) sites. These digital charlatans operate in the shadows, exploiting the vulnerabilities of the advertising industry for their illicit gain. There is no ambiguity, no room for doubt – MFA sites are unequivocally fraudulent enterprises that deceive marketers, steal … Read more
In the ever-evolving landscape of programmatic marketing, a specter haunts the industry—a menace that thrives on deception, waste, and the perverse incentives inherent in a system teetering on the edge of chaos. Ad fraud, a shadowy underworld that thrives beneath the surface of the $88 billion open programmatic market, has finally found itself in the … Read more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently unveiled its long-awaited final revisions to the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, much to the delight of marketers and influencers who have been eagerly awaiting clarity on this important aspect of digital marketing. With these revisions, the FTC aims to crack down on deceptive … Read more
It’s bad. It’s actually worse than everyone was saying. Google may owe advertisers billions of dollars and face huge lawsuits after scamming advertisers. For years, many people, including myself, have questioned the ecosystem of online advertising, particularly Google’s enormous advertising growth that seems to be backed by junk and scam sites. Now, new research reveals that … Read more
Maryland’s Supreme Court has given the green light to the implementation of the country’s first-ever digital ad tax, despite facing significant opposition. The law, passed during the 2021 General Assembly, aims to target big tech companies by imposing a tax on the revenue generated from selling digital advertising in Maryland. The tax rates vary depending … Read more