Arielle S. Garcia
@ariellesgarcia.bsky.social
COO at @checkmyads.org - the digital advertising watchdog | responsible media & tech | privacy | cat & dog mom | views are my own
www.checkmyads.org
www.usvgoogleads.com
www.checkmyads.org
www.usvgoogleads.com
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Blackburn, Blumenthal Probe Amazon & Google After New Report Reveals They Placed Ads on Website that Hosts Child Sexual Abuse Material
www.blackburn.senate.gov
Today, Congress sent letters to CEOs of Google, Amazon, Integral Ad Science, DoubleVerify, Media Rating Council, and TAG demanding answers about their roles in monetizing a website known to host CSAM since 2021. www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/2/issue...
Reposted by Arielle S. Garcia
This should be great. @ariellesgarcia.bsky.social and I bonded during the DOJ trial and we’ll geek out on the remedies etc.
🚨 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
🗓️ August 18 at 2pm
August 13, 2025 at 8:43 PM
This should be great. @ariellesgarcia.bsky.social and I bonded during the DOJ trial and we’ll geek out on the remedies etc.
#USvGoogleII adtech antitrust remedies trial witnesses and exhibit lists are up!
DOJ witnesses and an excerpt from the exhibit list are below, showing quite a few documents referencing code-named projects and a 2023 “sell-side separation scoping” document.
DOJ witnesses and an excerpt from the exhibit list are below, showing quite a few documents referencing code-named projects and a 2023 “sell-side separation scoping” document.
August 16, 2025 at 2:51 AM
#USvGoogleII adtech antitrust remedies trial witnesses and exhibit lists are up!
DOJ witnesses and an excerpt from the exhibit list are below, showing quite a few documents referencing code-named projects and a 2023 “sell-side separation scoping” document.
DOJ witnesses and an excerpt from the exhibit list are below, showing quite a few documents referencing code-named projects and a 2023 “sell-side separation scoping” document.
Reposted by Arielle S. Garcia
More than 200 data providers sell segments on the Marketplace, which LiveRamp has claimed give insights into “700 million consumers worldwide.”
“What average person knows that LiveRamp exists?” @ariellesgarcia.bsky.social said.
“What average person knows that LiveRamp exists?” @ariellesgarcia.bsky.social said.
April 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
More than 200 data providers sell segments on the Marketplace, which LiveRamp has claimed give insights into “700 million consumers worldwide.”
“What average person knows that LiveRamp exists?” @ariellesgarcia.bsky.social said.
“What average person knows that LiveRamp exists?” @ariellesgarcia.bsky.social said.
Reposted by Arielle S. Garcia
⚡ In less then an hour the Sen Judiciary Cmty will discuss how we can break up entrenched power & bring transparency to the heart of the internet economy - efforts that are crucial to preserving a healthy democracy where no single entity holds outsized influence over public discourse & our data.
April 1, 2025 at 6:10 PM
⚡ In less then an hour the Sen Judiciary Cmty will discuss how we can break up entrenched power & bring transparency to the heart of the internet economy - efforts that are crucial to preserving a healthy democracy where no single entity holds outsized influence over public discourse & our data.
With the support of @checkmyads.org's advocacy, Senator Warner (D-VA) sent letters asking the FTC and DOJ to investigate 3 ad verification firms - DoubleVerify, Integral Ad Science, HUMAN - for deceptive advertising and charging the federal government for services not delivered.
March 28, 2025 at 3:10 PM
With the support of @checkmyads.org's advocacy, Senator Warner (D-VA) sent letters asking the FTC and DOJ to investigate 3 ad verification firms - DoubleVerify, Integral Ad Science, HUMAN - for deceptive advertising and charging the federal government for services not delivered.
Reposted by Arielle S. Garcia
Extremely proud listening to @ariellesgarcia.bsky.social testify before the VT legislature on the privacy harms posed by adtech middlemen.
“The false promise of precision targeting only props up the tangled web of adtech middlemen not small businesses.” 🔥🔥
“The false promise of precision targeting only props up the tangled web of adtech middlemen not small businesses.” 🔥🔥
March 11, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Extremely proud listening to @ariellesgarcia.bsky.social testify before the VT legislature on the privacy harms posed by adtech middlemen.
“The false promise of precision targeting only props up the tangled web of adtech middlemen not small businesses.” 🔥🔥
“The false promise of precision targeting only props up the tangled web of adtech middlemen not small businesses.” 🔥🔥
Reposted by Arielle S. Garcia
Systemic failures meant Google and others put ads from US Homeland Security and others on websites containing child abuse.
The sites were well known and had been censured by government watchdogs for years.
I’m joined by @ariellesgarcia.bsky.social to discuss whether self-regulation has failed.
The sites were well known and had been censured by government watchdogs for years.
I’m joined by @ariellesgarcia.bsky.social to discuss whether self-regulation has failed.
The ad failures that let the US Government fund child abuse
What can be learned from the systemic ad tech failures that left global brand ads on a website that publishes horrific scenes of abuse...
open.substack.com
February 17, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Systemic failures meant Google and others put ads from US Homeland Security and others on websites containing child abuse.
The sites were well known and had been censured by government watchdogs for years.
I’m joined by @ariellesgarcia.bsky.social to discuss whether self-regulation has failed.
The sites were well known and had been censured by government watchdogs for years.
I’m joined by @ariellesgarcia.bsky.social to discuss whether self-regulation has failed.
We at @checkmyads.org filed a complaint with Trustworthy Accountability Group ("TAG") regarding their certified vendors transacting and monitoring ads on CSAM. We also included our broader questions and recommendations regarding TAG’s standards and practices.
checkmyads.org/check-my-ads...
checkmyads.org/check-my-ads...
Check My Ads Institute Files Complaint with TAG, Calling for Enforcement and Answers
Yesterday, Check My Ads Institute (CMAI) filed a complaint with the Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) regarding multiple TAG-certified vendors for non-compliance with TAG’s brand safety standards...
checkmyads.org
February 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
We at @checkmyads.org filed a complaint with Trustworthy Accountability Group ("TAG") regarding their certified vendors transacting and monitoring ads on CSAM. We also included our broader questions and recommendations regarding TAG’s standards and practices.
checkmyads.org/check-my-ads...
checkmyads.org/check-my-ads...
Thank you to @kendrabarnett.bsky.social of @adweek.bsky.social for her fantastic reporting, as always.
1. www.adweek.com/media/ad-buy...
2. www.adweek.com/media/senato...
1. www.adweek.com/media/ad-buy...
2. www.adweek.com/media/senato...
February 7, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Thank you to @kendrabarnett.bsky.social of @adweek.bsky.social for her fantastic reporting, as always.
1. www.adweek.com/media/ad-buy...
2. www.adweek.com/media/senato...
1. www.adweek.com/media/ad-buy...
2. www.adweek.com/media/senato...
Today, Congress sent letters to CEOs of Google, Amazon, Integral Ad Science, DoubleVerify, Media Rating Council, and TAG demanding answers about their roles in monetizing a website known to host CSAM since 2021. www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/2/issue...
Blackburn, Blumenthal Probe Amazon & Google After New Report Reveals They Placed Ads on Website that Hosts Child Sexual Abuse Material
www.blackburn.senate.gov
February 7, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Today, Congress sent letters to CEOs of Google, Amazon, Integral Ad Science, DoubleVerify, Media Rating Council, and TAG demanding answers about their roles in monetizing a website known to host CSAM since 2021. www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/2/issue...
Reposted by Arielle S. Garcia
🚨 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...
Read the complaint here: epic.org/wp-content/u...
January 16, 2025 at 6:25 PM
🚨 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...
Read the complaint here: epic.org/wp-content/u...
Today, on “The Gilded Paperweight”:
If most large IPG clients "that have Acxiom manage their 1p data use its ID tools, incl. Real ID, and rTag" isn't it odd that the fall ‘23 instance of Real ID didn't generate any rev that Acxiom EVP of Identity was aware of in his Sept ‘24 Adstra deposition? (1/3)
If most large IPG clients "that have Acxiom manage their 1p data use its ID tools, incl. Real ID, and rTag" isn't it odd that the fall ‘23 instance of Real ID didn't generate any rev that Acxiom EVP of Identity was aware of in his Sept ‘24 Adstra deposition? (1/3)
December 21, 2024 at 2:11 AM
Today, on “The Gilded Paperweight”:
If most large IPG clients "that have Acxiom manage their 1p data use its ID tools, incl. Real ID, and rTag" isn't it odd that the fall ‘23 instance of Real ID didn't generate any rev that Acxiom EVP of Identity was aware of in his Sept ‘24 Adstra deposition? (1/3)
If most large IPG clients "that have Acxiom manage their 1p data use its ID tools, incl. Real ID, and rTag" isn't it odd that the fall ‘23 instance of Real ID didn't generate any rev that Acxiom EVP of Identity was aware of in his Sept ‘24 Adstra deposition? (1/3)
Reposted by Arielle S. Garcia
Sorry this wasn't the policy before now, Dec 2024?!
"The updated policy clarifies and centralizes how we prohibit certain activities to better protect users, such as not allowing ads that simulate operating system warnings with the intention of deceiving users."
support.google.com/marketingpla...
"The updated policy clarifies and centralizes how we prohibit certain activities to better protect users, such as not allowing ads that simulate operating system warnings with the intention of deceiving users."
support.google.com/marketingpla...
Updating our platform policies to reflect innovations in the ads ecosystem - Google Marketing Platform Help
December 2024In the past decade, the way people engage with the internet changed dramatically. So we’re constantly evaluating our policies to ensure they reflect the latest evolutions in technology an
support.google.com
December 19, 2024 at 2:46 PM
Sorry this wasn't the policy before now, Dec 2024?!
"The updated policy clarifies and centralizes how we prohibit certain activities to better protect users, such as not allowing ads that simulate operating system warnings with the intention of deceiving users."
support.google.com/marketingpla...
"The updated policy clarifies and centralizes how we prohibit certain activities to better protect users, such as not allowing ads that simulate operating system warnings with the intention of deceiving users."
support.google.com/marketingpla...
Not sure what makes me scarier: my deadlift, or the fact that I, of my own free will, shared photos of myself in yellow Minion socks, knowing they'd be published. Shoutout to @thisiskis.bsky.social of @adweek.bsky.social for featuring me in their Off the Clock series.
www.adweek.com/brand-market...
www.adweek.com/brand-market...
Powerlifting Is Just One Flex for Check My Ads' Arielle Garcia
The intelligence chief just hit a personal best deadlift of 400 pounds.
www.adweek.com
December 17, 2024 at 4:52 PM
Not sure what makes me scarier: my deadlift, or the fact that I, of my own free will, shared photos of myself in yellow Minion socks, knowing they'd be published. Shoutout to @thisiskis.bsky.social of @adweek.bsky.social for featuring me in their Off the Clock series.
www.adweek.com/brand-market...
www.adweek.com/brand-market...
“On November 25, one day before police found Balaji’s body, a court filing named the former OpenAI employee in a copyright lawsuit brought against the startup.”
OpenAI whistleblower found dead at 26 in San Francisco apartment | TechCrunch
A former OpenAI employee, Suchir Balaji, was recently found dead in his San Francisco apartment, according to the San Francisco Office of the Chief
techcrunch.com
December 14, 2024 at 2:17 PM
“On November 25, one day before police found Balaji’s body, a court filing named the former OpenAI employee in a copyright lawsuit brought against the startup.”
This was a fun one. Thanks to @adtechgod.com for inviting me to share my hot takes on one of my favorite topics: holdcos abdicating their duty to clients to make a quick buck.
Thanks to @adtechgod.com for having me on The Refresh to talk about the OMC / IPG merger.
www.linkedin.com/posts/bernar...
www.linkedin.com/posts/bernar...
Bernard Urban on LinkedIn: Today I had the pleasure of chatting with Adtech God, Arielle Garcia, and…
Today I had the pleasure of chatting with Adtech God, Arielle Garcia, and Mike Evans about the OMC / IPG merger on The Refresh Podcast.
Click here listen on…
www.linkedin.com
December 11, 2024 at 2:26 AM
This was a fun one. Thanks to @adtechgod.com for inviting me to share my hot takes on one of my favorite topics: holdcos abdicating their duty to clients to make a quick buck.
Reposted by Arielle S. Garcia
Thanks to @adtechgod.com for having me on The Refresh to talk about the OMC / IPG merger.
www.linkedin.com/posts/bernar...
www.linkedin.com/posts/bernar...
Bernard Urban on LinkedIn: Today I had the pleasure of chatting with Adtech God, Arielle Garcia, and…
Today I had the pleasure of chatting with Adtech God, Arielle Garcia, and Mike Evans about the OMC / IPG merger on The Refresh Podcast.
Click here listen on…
www.linkedin.com
December 10, 2024 at 11:39 PM
Thanks to @adtechgod.com for having me on The Refresh to talk about the OMC / IPG merger.
www.linkedin.com/posts/bernar...
www.linkedin.com/posts/bernar...
A good way to stop Google and Meta from eating holdcos’ lunch might be to *not* funnel money into AI products or carry water for them to hit incentive deal targets. Not to double-down on scale for leverage to negotiate better short-term deals and peddle junk data.
December 11, 2024 at 1:15 AM
A good way to stop Google and Meta from eating holdcos’ lunch might be to *not* funnel money into AI products or carry water for them to hit incentive deal targets. Not to double-down on scale for leverage to negotiate better short-term deals and peddle junk data.
Especially where the big plan is to allegedly increase the pool of dollars to funnel into principal trading and cut partner deals. Sounds like a good way to bolster dominance of big adtech firms, while simultaneously setting them up to eat your lunch.
The corporate consolidation of the advertising industry intensifies with the merger of two large advertising holding firms Omnicom and IPG, which have similar business models.
I am always in favour of markets with strong competition and many firms, not less.
www.reuters.com/markets/deal...
I am always in favour of markets with strong competition and many firms, not less.
www.reuters.com/markets/deal...
Omnicom and Interpublic nearing merger, WSJ reports
Advertising and marketing conglomerate Omnicom Group is in advanced talks to acquire Interpublic Group in an all-stock deal that is likely to value Interpublic at between $13 billion and $14 billion, excluding debt, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.
www.reuters.com
December 9, 2024 at 11:23 PM
Especially where the big plan is to allegedly increase the pool of dollars to funnel into principal trading and cut partner deals. Sounds like a good way to bolster dominance of big adtech firms, while simultaneously setting them up to eat your lunch.
Reposted by Arielle S. Garcia
The corporate consolidation of the advertising industry intensifies with the merger of two large advertising holding firms Omnicom and IPG, which have similar business models.
I am always in favour of markets with strong competition and many firms, not less.
www.reuters.com/markets/deal...
I am always in favour of markets with strong competition and many firms, not less.
www.reuters.com/markets/deal...
Omnicom and Interpublic nearing merger, WSJ reports
Advertising and marketing conglomerate Omnicom Group is in advanced talks to acquire Interpublic Group in an all-stock deal that is likely to value Interpublic at between $13 billion and $14 billion, excluding debt, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.
www.reuters.com
December 9, 2024 at 7:52 AM
The corporate consolidation of the advertising industry intensifies with the merger of two large advertising holding firms Omnicom and IPG, which have similar business models.
I am always in favour of markets with strong competition and many firms, not less.
www.reuters.com/markets/deal...
I am always in favour of markets with strong competition and many firms, not less.
www.reuters.com/markets/deal...
For everyone that needs to hear this, owning a third-party data broker does not miraculously make the data first-party.
This is the same nonsense that was making its rounds in reporting about the Acxiom acquisition in 2018.
This is the same nonsense that was making its rounds in reporting about the Acxiom acquisition in 2018.
December 9, 2024 at 11:19 PM
For everyone that needs to hear this, owning a third-party data broker does not miraculously make the data first-party.
This is the same nonsense that was making its rounds in reporting about the Acxiom acquisition in 2018.
This is the same nonsense that was making its rounds in reporting about the Acxiom acquisition in 2018.
Selling IPG - for parts, or in whole - was always going to be the outcome.
A riddle:
How do you use a $2.3B paperweight to create shareholder value?
Dress it up, and sell it to someone before they notice it's a paperweight.
A riddle:
How do you use a $2.3B paperweight to create shareholder value?
Dress it up, and sell it to someone before they notice it's a paperweight.
Omnicom to Acquire Interpublic in Deal That Will Reshape Advertising Industry
The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that the companies were in advanced merger talks.
www.wsj.com
December 9, 2024 at 3:03 PM
Selling IPG - for parts, or in whole - was always going to be the outcome.
A riddle:
How do you use a $2.3B paperweight to create shareholder value?
Dress it up, and sell it to someone before they notice it's a paperweight.
A riddle:
How do you use a $2.3B paperweight to create shareholder value?
Dress it up, and sell it to someone before they notice it's a paperweight.
Thanks to @thedrum.bsky.social for the opportunity to share my thoughts on implications of the FTC's latest enforcement actions & CFPB proposed data broker rule.
TL;DR: real consent = less scale
Have a read here, and see the quoted thread for more details.
TL;DR: real consent = less scale
Have a read here, and see the quoted thread for more details.
December 3, 2024 at 9:16 PM
Thanks to @thedrum.bsky.social for the opportunity to share my thoughts on implications of the FTC's latest enforcement actions & CFPB proposed data broker rule.
TL;DR: real consent = less scale
Have a read here, and see the quoted thread for more details.
TL;DR: real consent = less scale
Have a read here, and see the quoted thread for more details.
Reposted by Arielle S. Garcia
2025 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 ...
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 ...
December 3, 2024 at 5:42 PM
2025 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 ...
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 ...
Early this year, I saw Gravy Analytics Privacy Chief boasting "industry-leading" privacy practices. I had questions about how Gravy & Venntel (gov't contractor subsidiary) was responding to FTC location data enforcement. I was swiftly blocked.
We finally have our answer.
We finally have our answer.
December 3, 2024 at 7:45 PM
Early this year, I saw Gravy Analytics Privacy Chief boasting "industry-leading" privacy practices. I had questions about how Gravy & Venntel (gov't contractor subsidiary) was responding to FTC location data enforcement. I was swiftly blocked.
We finally have our answer.
We finally have our answer.