Criticism that advertisements based on ``surveillance'' should be banned

Digital advertising on the Internet in recent years is built on the basis of 'tracking user behavior'. For this reason, there are many indications that it violates privacy, and Google, an advertising company, is trying to abolish the existing mechanism and create a new advertising mechanism. However, even with the new advertising mechanism, the practice of ``tracking user behavior'' remains, so there is a growing argument that ``surveillance-based advertising should be abolished in the first place.''

Open letter: Ban surveillance-based advertising | Vivaldi Browser
https://vivaldi.com/blog/letter-ban-surveillance-based-advertising/

Targeting advertising refers to tracking the behavior of users on the Internet, determining their interests, and displaying advertisements based on that information. Targeted advertising has been widely used in the advertising industry in recent years because it is said that the performance is better than the advertising display methods that existed in the past. However, targeting advertising using third-party cookies is being regulated because it has been pointed out that ``it violates privacy because it tracks user behavior too extensively'', and Google also has a new advertising mechanism that replaces third-party cookies. is being developed.

Summary of what Google's ``privacy sandbox'' is, a thorough explanation of the current situation, changes, problems, etc. |

In addition to Google, many ad tech companies are trying to create new targeted advertising mechanisms.

Adobe announces ``Real-Time CDP'' that enables targeting without third-party cookies | GIGAZINE.BIZ

Many of these new mechanisms do not use third-party cookies, but they continue to target advertising itself using user behavior tracking. For this reason, there is an argument that targeting advertising itself should be stopped in the first place, regardless of whether third-party cookies are used.

On June 23, 2021, consumer rights groups, civil rights groups, NGOs, researchers, and privacy experts jointly called on regulatory authorities to ``crack down on intrusive and privacy-infringing surveillance-based advertising.'' I was.

TIME TO BAN SURVEILLANCE-BASED ADVERTISING
(PDF file) https://www.forbrukerradet.no/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/20210622-final-report-time-to-ban-surveillance-based-advertising.pdf

Privacy-focused web browser developer Vivaldi has also announced its support for the move. Vivaldi points out that surveillance-based advertising not only invades privacy but is also harmful to the business environment. Vivaldi argues that surveillance-based advertising stifles competition and makes it easier for companies to dominate. The digital advertising supply chainis becoming more complex , and the establishment of dominant companies in it will deprive advertisers and content creators and publishers of revenue.

In addition, because it is difficult for ordinary consumers to distinguish between “good” and “bad” companies in the complex field of digital advertising, even companies that are doing the right thing are likely to be affected by bad corporate practices. may be adversely affected. Vivaldi said such a cycle could harm consumers and businesses and undermine the foundations of democracy.

'Advertising is an important source of income for online content creators and publishers, but this does not justify large-scale commercial surveillance systems aimed at 'showing the right ads to the right people'. ' concludes Vivaldi.