Check My Ads

Let’s build an internet that rewards integrity, restores trust, and actually serves the public good.

🚀 Read the full platform www.checkmyads.org/policy

We took cues from financial and consumer protection playbooks and built this by listening to researchers, regulators, publishers, and advocates like you.

A 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.

📢 Big news: Check My Ads just launched our first-ever Policy Platform.

checkmyads.org/policy/

🚨 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...

Are PETs Enough To Mitigate The Privacy Risks Of Device Fingerprinting? | AdExchanger Google says it plans to stop restricting fingerprinting because of the rise of connected TV and the rise of privacy-enhancing technologies.

The 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-...

"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.

Deepfake 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.

Yet 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...

CONFIRMED: Google is cracking down on scammy advertisers after our Shark Tank report Folks, 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...

Finally, 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...

YouTube Deletes 1,000 Videos of Celebrity AI Scam Ads But plenty of deepfake scam videos are still on the platform.

Shortly 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...

Google is getting fat off fake Shark Tank weight loss gummies Mark 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...

If 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...

One again, Google's been busted for letting scammers run ads with fake endorsements from celebrities

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.

"Venntel is the government contracting arm of Gravy. Gravy is now Unacast" i repeat to myself as i slide into unconsciousness

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Adtech 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/donate

CONFIRMED: Google is cracking down on scammy advertisers after our Shark Tank report Folks, 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...

Forced Google to crack down on scammers selling fake Shark Tank weight loss supplements through its ad products.

checkmyads.org/confirmed-go...

Spun 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!)

Obituary spam hurts families, and adtech makes it possible Adtech companies are monetizing spam obituary websites, and hurting families in the process.

We got sites to quit publishing harmful AI obit spam (probably my favorite story of ours for this year, tbh)

checkmyads.org/fake-obituar...

Google lets brands audit some GSP ads after Check My Ads pressure campaign Update: 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...

Through 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...

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 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.

The Pressure Is on for Big Tech to Regulate the Broken Digital Advertising Industry Brands 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.

Brands 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...

Like 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/

#USvgoogle closing arguments just ended. Some quick highlights.

1. Notable question/statement from the Judge Brinkema during Google closing arguments where she speaks to how Ohio v. Amex (re: 2-sided transaction platforms) initially had a "certain attraction," it ultimately became less attractive.

#USvGoogle search proposed remedies are up: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Digging in now, but divestiture of Chrome is indeed in, and Android isn’t totally off the table.

Home Digital 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.

sending 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.org

And put it on your inclusion lists!

Hello 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

Home Digital 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.

a bonus fun fact for the folks here:

you can also visit us by going to checkmyass.org or checkmyabs.org