Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 13/08/2025www.amazon.com/Yield-Google...amazon.comYield: How Google Bought, Built, and Bullied Its Way to Advertising DominanceAmazon.com: Yield: How Google Bought, Built, and Bullied Its Way to Advertising Dominance: 9798891386174: Ari Paparo: Books 086
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 13/08/2025♟️ Don’t miss the hot goss surrounding antitrust tomfoolery; become a Checkmate and get the link to join! checkmyads.org/donate/checkmyads.orgDonateMake an impact. Fund the work and help us hold the digital ad industry accountable. We are a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. 031
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 13/08/2025🗣️ They’ll be diving into Ari’s new book (link to pre-order Yield in the comments!) where he unpacks Google’s monopolistic history and they both break down their recent experiences at the Google antitrust trial. Expect some fun behind-the-scenes anecdotes with our adtech experts.lnkd.inLinkedInThis link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn 271
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 13/08/2025🚨 Join our Checkmate crew for an exclusive Q&A with adtech legend, @aripaparo.com and our very own @ariellesgarcia.bsky.social! 🗓️ August 18 at 2pm 181
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 12/06/2025Let’s build an internet that rewards integrity, restores trust, and actually serves the public good. 🚀 Read the full platform www.checkmyads.org/policy 043
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 12/06/2025We took cues from financial and consumer protection playbooks and built this by listening to researchers, regulators, publishers, and advocates like you. 110
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 12/06/2025A major step toward a digital economy that works for people and businesses, not just monopolies and platforms. Our platform lays out bold solutions to reduce ad fraud and waste, rein in monopoly power, and bring fairness, transparency, and accountability back to the business model of the internet. 110
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 12/06/2025📢 Big news: Check My Ads just launched our first-ever Policy Platform. checkmyads.org/policy/checkmyads.orgPolicyCheck My Ads Institute Policy Platform The digital advertising industry has grown into a $750 billion juggernaut. It is largely unregulated, deeply opaque, and increasingly harmful. Adtech companies e... 2179
Reposted by Check My AdsEPIC @epic.org · 16/01/2025🚨 EPIC and Enforce (@iccl.bsky.social) urged the FTC to investigate Google’s Real-Time Bidding (RTB) data in the first ever complaint under PADFAA, the new national security data law. 🧵 Read the complaint here: epic.org/wp-content/u... 13217
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 16/01/2025The reasoning? That PETs (Privacy-Enhancing Technologies) are enough to mitigate the risk to user privacy. But, privacy isn't just about secure processing. It's about transparency and choice, and fingerprinting subverts both. Read: www.adexchanger.com/privacy/are-...adexchanger.comAre PETs Enough To Mitigate The Privacy Risks Of Device Fingerprinting? | AdExchangerGoogle says it plans to stop restricting fingerprinting because of the rise of connected TV and the rise of privacy-enhancing technologies. 1115
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 16/01/2025"The goalposts move to wherever Google needs them to be." Our COO, Arielle Garcia, chatted with Allison Schiff at AdExchanger about Google's recent decision to reverse its stance on device fingerprinting, an invasive form of digital ad tracking that monitors device characteristics. 1207
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 04/12/2024Yet here we are with another story ending with "Google said it removed the deepfake supplement ads and permanently suspended the account that paid for them after I reached out for comment." Why are journalists and nonprofits doing quality control for a $2tn company? www.404media.co/deepfake-you...404media.coDeepfake YouTube Ads of Celebrities Promise to Get You ‘Rock Hard’Deepfakes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Mike Tyson, and Terry Crews are selling erectile dysfunction supplements on YouTube. 1135
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 04/12/2024Finally, in March, Google adjusted its policies on misrepresentation to include "enticing users to part with money or information by impersonating or falsely implying affiliation with or endorsement by a public figure, brand, or organization." checkmyads.org/confirmed-go...checkmyads.orgCONFIRMED: Google is cracking down on scammy advertisers after our Shark Tank reportFolks, some BIG news! Last month we reported that Google was helping scammers swindle people with fake Shark Tank diet pills — and making money while doing it. The report was picked up by Mashable, wi... 1175
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 04/12/2024Shortly after that, @404media.co's @jasonkoebler.bsky.social showed how YouTube was covered in AI-generated ads featuring deepfakes of celebrities. www.404media.co/youtube-dele...404media.coYouTube Deletes 1,000 Videos of Celebrity AI Scam AdsBut plenty of deepfake scam videos are still on the platform. 140
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 04/12/2024If this sounds familiar, it's because, well, we're closing out the year the same way we started. In January, we exposed how scammers used Google ad products to sell diet supplements with fake endorsements checkmyads.org/google-shark...checkmyads.orgGoogle is getting fat off fake Shark Tank weight loss gummiesMark Cuban and Shark Tank don’t appreciate Google letting scammers use their brand to hurt people. Google is spoon-feeding fake “Shark Tank approved” weight loss gummy candies to innocent people — and... 130
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 04/12/2024One again, Google's been busted for letting scammers run ads with fake endorsements from celebrities 12810
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 03/12/2024"Venntel is the government contracting arm of Gravy. Gravy is now Unacast" i repeat to myself as i slide into unconsciousness 010
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 03/12/2024Adtech companies have hijacked the internet. We want to take control back, and make it a fair place for people, publishers, and advertisers. If you share this goal, we'd love to have you as a Checkmate, one of our recurring donors: checkmyads.org/donatecheckmyads.orgDonateMake an impact. Fund the work and help us hold the digital ad industry accountable. We are a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. 072
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 03/12/2024Forced Google to crack down on scammers selling fake Shark Tank weight loss supplements through its ad products. checkmyads.org/confirmed-go...checkmyads.orgCONFIRMED: Google is cracking down on scammy advertisers after our Shark Tank reportFolks, some BIG news! Last month we reported that Google was helping scammers swindle people with fake Shark Tank diet pills — and making money while doing it. The report was picked up by Mashable, wi... 160
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 03/12/2024Spun up USvGoogleAds.com, where we published daily Google monopoly trial updates and created handy resources for journalists (shoutout to @sarahkwiley.bsky.social and @ariellesgarcia.bsky.social here!)usvgoogleads.comUS v Google 130
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 03/12/2024We got sites to quit publishing harmful AI obit spam (probably my favorite story of ours for this year, tbh) checkmyads.org/fake-obituar...checkmyads.orgObituary spam hurts families, and adtech makes it possibleAdtech companies are monetizing spam obituary websites, and hurting families in the process. 120
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 03/12/2024Through a pressure campaign, we made Google start cracking open the black box that is Google’s PMax, giving advertisers some transparency when using it. checkmyads.org/google-gsp-p...checkmyads.orgGoogle lets brands audit some GSP ads after Check My Ads pressure campaignUpdate: After publication, a Google spokesperson clarified that the transparency is only for Pmax placement reports and not for search campaign reports. We regret the error (of assuming Google did the... 110
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 03/12/20242025 is going to be a big year for making a fair internet for people, advertisers, and publishers. This Giving Tuesday, we’re asking that you join us as a Checkmate to support the work we do. What work is that? Well, I'm glad you asked, hypothetical Bluesky user! Because this year alone ... 184
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 03/12/2024This Giving Tuesday, we want to thank our beautiful Checkmates. You help us make sure advertiser dollars support legitimate publishers instead of AI spam, clickbait, and scams. If you’d like to join us as a Checkmate, go to checkmyads.org/donate to sign up. 020
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 02/12/2024Brands are at the mercy of the algorithm when it comes to where their ads appear online, @catthekin.checkmyads.org writes for @wired.com. But they’re about to get more control. www.wired.com/story/big-te...wired.comThe Pressure Is on for Big Tech to Regulate the Broken Digital Advertising IndustryBrands have been at the mercy of the algorithm when it comes to where their ads appear online, but they’re about to get more control. 0179
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 27/11/2024Like cute clothes AND making sure advertiser dollars support legitimate websites and facts instead of AI spam and clickbait? Good news: Check My Ads has merch! Support our work in style: checkmyads.org/shop/ 160
Reposted by Check My AdsBrandon Hardin @hardin.bsky.social · 15/11/2024sending out the newest @checkmyads.org newsletter in a bit with at least one truly atrocious pun in it so sign up while you can checkmyads.orgcheckmyads.orgHomeDigital advertising watchdog. We protect your right to be free from scams, lies, and manipulation online. Join us to help keep the ad industry in check. 194
Reposted by Check My AdsSarah Kay Wiley @sarahkwiley.bsky.social · 12/11/2024Hello new/old friends! A bit about me - I’m a tech and media policy advocate, focused on a more transparent information economy and the business incentives driving our online spaces. I care deeply about free expression and consumer protection. Currently I’m the policy director @checkmyads.org 1123
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 12/11/2024a bonus fun fact for the folks here: you can also visit us by going to checkmyass.org or checkmyabs.orgcheckmyass.orgHomeDigital advertising watchdog. We protect your right to be free from scams, lies, and manipulation online. Join us to help keep the ad industry in check. 043
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 12/11/2024oh no it's been so long we're still using the old branding here, one second ... 130
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 15/11/2023Here's a fun lil' update on this. Thank you for your submissions! checkmyads.org/updates/chec... 010
Reposted by Check My AdsClaire Atkin @catthekin.checkmyads.org · 15/11/2023Big news! We filed a request for inquiry with the Federal Trade Commission about Twitter today. Their new ad format is… to not label ads!? We at @checkmyads.org think this is probably illegal. @sarahkwiley.bsky.social filed today. www.wired.com/story/ftc-x-... 1146
Reposted by Check My AdsTodds Unlimited @toddindeed.bsky.social · 15/11/2023Love to see it (correctly labelled). Great work by the @checkmyads.org community. www.wired.com/story/ftc-x-...wired.comA Watchdog Group Calls for an Investigation of X’s Sneaky New AdsIndustry watchdog Check My Ads is petitioning the Federal Trade Commission to investigate X for unlabeled—and potentially misleading—advertisements. 22312
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 08/09/2023Given how toxic Twitter has become, we asked the Trustworthy Accountability Group to investigate if Twitter is in breach of its brand safety guidelines. The company's CEO confirmed to Digiday that investigation is now under way. digiday.com/marketing/xs... 081
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 08/09/2023We've seen examples that do not have the yellow checkmark, and examples where the text is missing despite there being no overflow. Even if the overflow were the problem, coding incompetence is no excuse for not disclosing ads. 100
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 08/09/2023We're investigating reports that people being shown ads on Twitter that aren't marked as ads, something the FTC really isn't a fan of! So if you're still occasionally on the hellsite and happen to notice this, zing a couple screenshots our way: submit@checkmyads.org 4147
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 07/09/2023Currently, X has Trustworthy Accountability Group certification, meant to let advertisers know it's a safe place to be. But we all know how unsafe Twitter is now. So we filed a complaint with TAG, and now they're investigating to see if it's in breach of guidelines. digiday.com/marketing/xs... 030
Check My Ads @checkmyads.org · 07/09/2023Hi, hello, ahoy! New platform, same mission: Dismantle the disinformation economy. Our latest effort: Making sure advertisers know Elon Musk's most recent outburst against the ADL is a failed attempt to cover up his own incompetence. checkmyads.org/updates/musk... 191