Latest news with #targetedadvertising
Tahawul Tech
17-07-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
X accused of breaching advertising rules
Social media company X has received a formal complaint from nine civil society organisations accusing the platform of breaching advertising rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The campaigners, including NGOs such as AI Forensics, European Digital Rights and the Centre for Democracy and Technology, submitted a complaint to the European Commission (EC) and French media regulator Arcom. They allege that X enables targeted advertising using sensitive personal data linked to political views, religion, sexual orientation and health conditions – a practice banned under the DSA. The findings emerged from evidence collected by AI Forensics through an investigation of X's Ad Repository, a public database set up by companies under DSA rules. The research claimed major corporations such as Shein, McDonald's and Total Energies ran ad campaigns on the platform that targeted or excluded users based on engagement with sensitive keyword categories. AI Forensics also identified that Brussels Signal, a media outlet tied to European right-wing parties, ran ads aimed at users engaging with keywords related to far-right political content, a move seen as an attempt to sway civic discourse. In a joint statement, the organisations expressed 'deep concern' regarding the findings, stating that the sensitive user information used in X's advertising practices 'can reveal deeply personal aspects of an individual's identity', leading to an 'increased risk of discrimination, harm and violations of users' fundamental rights'. The group urged EU regulators and Digital Services Coordinators to launch an investigation, emphasising that 'platforms operating at the scale and influence of X must be held to the highest standards of compliance.' Source: Mobile World Live Image Credit: X
Reuters
17-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
X hit by complaints to EU over user data and targeted advertising
BRUSSELS, July 15 (Reuters) - Elon Musk's X social media platform has been hit by complaints by nine civil society organisations to EU and French regulators over what they say is its use of users' data for targeted advertising that may breach EU tech rules. The organisations - AI Forensics, the Centre for Democracy and Technology Europe, Entropy, European Digital Rights, Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte e.V. (GFF), Global Witness, Panoptykon Foundation, Stichting Bits of Freedom and VoxPublic said they took their complaint to the European Commission and the French media regulator Arcom on Monday. They urged both regulators to take action under the Digital Services Act (DSA) which prohibits advertising based on sensitive user data such as religion, race and sexuality. X, the Commission and Arcom did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment. "We express our deep concern regarding the use by X of users' sensitive personal data for targeted advertisements," the organisations said in a statement. They said their concerns were triggered after they looked into X's Ad Repository which is a publicly available database set up by companies as part of a DSA requirement. "We found that major brands as well as public and financial institutions engaged in targeted online advertising based on what appear to be special categories of personal data, protected by Article 9 of the GDPR, such as political opinions, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and health conditions," they said. The group called on the regulators to investigate X. GDPR refers to the EU data privacy law.
CNA
15-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
X hit by complaints to EU over user data and targeted advertising
BRUSSELS :Elon Musk's X social media platform has been hit by complaints by nine civil society organisations to EU and French regulators over what they say is its use of users' data for targeted advertising that may breach EU tech rules. The organisations - AI Forensics, the Centre for Democracy and Technology Europe, Entropy, European Digital Rights, Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte e.V. (GFF), Global Witness, Panoptykon Foundation, Stichting Bits of Freedom and VoxPublic said they took their complaint to the European Commission and the French media regulator Arcom on Monday. They urged both regulators to take action under the Digital Services Act (DSA) which prohibits advertising based on sensitive user data such as religion, race and sexuality. "We express our deep concern regarding the use by X of users' sensitive personal data for targeted advertisements," the organisations said in a statement. They said their concerns were triggered after they looked into X's Ad Repository which is a publicly available database set up by companies as part of a DSA requirement. "We found that major brands as well as public and financial institutions engaged in targeted online advertising based on what appear to be special categories of personal data, protected by Article 9 of the GDPR, such as political opinions, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and health conditions," they said. The group called on the regulators to investigate X. GDPR refers to the EU data privacy law.
France 24
10-07-2025
- Business
- France 24
Shein faces 150-mn-euro fine in France
The regulator, the CNIL, faulted the fast-fashion retailer for using trackers called cookies that enable for targeted advertising to users without their approval as required in Europe, or for using a confusing method to get consent. It also found during a 2023 inspection that when users refused the tracking cookies Shein continued to read information from them. Given the firm has the technical and staff resources necessary to comply with the regulations its behaviour was negligent, said CNIL. Shein had recently complied with the regulations, it added. A final decision on fining the fast-fashion giant should come within weeks. Shein called the proposed amount of the fine "disproportionate", in a statement sent to AFP. "Since August 2023 we have actively worked with the CNIL to ensure our compliance and respond to their queries," the China-founded firm said. This additional possible fine from the CNIL follows a record 40 million-euro penalty it received last week from France's competition and anti-fraud office over "deceptive commercial practices" by misleading customers on price deals and on its environmental impact.
Phone Arena
03-07-2025
- Phone Arena
Jury says Google must pay for using cellular data from Android users to collect their personal info
This data was used to help Google send more targeted advertising to Android users and also expand Google's mapping capabilities. As you might expect, Google disagrees with the verdict and plans to appeal. The suit was originally filed back in 2019 in Santa Clara Superior Court on behalf of California residents. A parallel case in federal court is coming up and will be heard in early 2026 for nationwide Android users. The plaintiffs said, "While Plaintiffs' Android devices were in their purses and pockets, and even while sitting seemingly idle on Plaintiffs' nightstands as they slept, Google's Android technology appropriated cellular data paid for by Plaintiffs—without Plaintiffs' knowledge or consent—to send Google all sorts of information. These "passive" information transfers occur because Google has programmed its Android operating system and Google applications to cause mobile devices to provide enormous amounts of information to Google, much of which Google uses to further its own corporate interests, including targeted digital advertising." The complaint noted that less information is sent through passive transfers on iOS because iPhones give users more control over this type of activity. Google's José Castañeda said, "This ruling is a setback for users, as it misunderstands services that are critical to the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices." Castañeda explains that the whole thing was a misunderstanding as Google needed to make the aforementioned data transfers to keep up the performance of billions of Android phones around the world. He noted that these transfers take up less cellular data than a single photo. -Part of the complaint filed by the plaintiffs As for not getting permission from Android users, Castañeda said that Android users do consent to the transfers by agreeing to multiple terms of service agreements and device setting options. Marc Wallenstein, a lawyer representing the consumers, said, "We are incredibly grateful for the jury's verdict, which forcefully vindicates the merits of this case and reflects the seriousness of Google's misconduct." The case is Csupo v. Alphabet Inc., 19CV352557, California Superior Court, Santa Clara County. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
