Privacy vs. Profit: Inside the Ad Tech Ecosystem

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07/11/24 • 44 min

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Award-winning data ethics and responsible media luminary Arielle Garcia is the Director of Intelligence at Check My Ads. In her role, she partners with businesses and organizations to lead research and develop standards and solutions that foster a healthier market, protect civil and human rights, and promote industry accountability.

A steadfast advocate for transparency, trust, and fairness in the digital ecosystem, she has advised 100+ marketers on the evolving digital landscape, driving the development and adoption of trustworthy and effective media and data strategies for the benefit of brands and their customers. She was previously the Chief Privacy and Responsibility Officer at UM Worldwide, and she holds a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.. In 2021, Arielle was inducted into the AAF Advertising Hall of Achievement. She has also been recognized by Crain's New York Business "20 in their 20s," a Cynopsis “Top Woman in Media” in 2021, and a “Top Woman in Media & Ad Tech” by AdExchanger in 2023.

In this episode...

In the intricate world of ad tech, the exchange of data has become as common as trading stocks on Wall Street. Marketers now have advanced tools to pinpoint their target audience, but this data trove also brings significant privacy concerns. Brands are often challenged with the privacy implications of tracking, data selling, and sharing. And that’s understandable - it’s a complex web of information, and it’s not always clear where consumer data ends up.

With the imminent demise of third-party cookies, companies are exploring new methods to sustain behavioral targeting like data clean rooms, conversion APIs, and alternative identifiers, raising questions about their privacy implications. That’s why Check My Ads is on a mission to keep the ad tech ecosystem in check by calling out false narratives and defunding bad actors that spread misinformation to drive systemic change.

In today’s episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels welcome Arielle Garcia, the Director of Intelligence at Check My Ads, to discuss some of the biggest privacy challenges facing the ad tech ecosystem today. Arielle highlights the fundamental conflict between ad tech business models and business privacy obligations, emphasizing the need for a shift toward consumer-centric approaches. She also shares the implications of third-party cookie deprecation, critiques current and emerging advertising business models, and discusses the critical need for implementing secure and effective media and data practices to benefit companies and their customers.

In this episode...

Previous Episode

AI Predators and Digital Dangers: Keeping Children Safe Online

Angeline Corvaglia is the Founder of Data Girl and Friends, where she is committed to helping young people thrive in an AI-driven digital world. Her strategy encompasses three key pillars: privacy and security awareness, critical thinking skills, and balancing the benefits and risks of AI. Angeline is on a mission to equip young minds with the tools they need to navigate and succeed in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

In this episode...

With rapid advancements in technology and AI, it is now more crucial than ever to protect children, particularly girls, online. Many parents are unaware of the full extent of digital and social media threats, such as AI-driven chatbots used by predators to manipulate children. How can parents protect their children, especially their daughters, and educate them about online risks?

To combat these risks, parents should activate privacy settings and restrict information sharing on electronic devices. Parents should activate enable privacy settings and restrict information sharing on electronic devices. And with resources like Data Girl and Friends, parents can engage in meaningful conversations with their children, empowering them to become digitally savvy and take charge of their online privacy.

In this week’s episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels chat with Angeline Corvaglia, the Founder of Data Girl and Friends, about protecting girls online. She shares actionable insights on shielding kids from intrusive data practices and online predators and discusses the underlying societal pressures that amplify these risks especially for girls.

Next Episode

AI, Privacy, and Innovation: Navigating Global Regulatory Challenges

Craig Schwartz is the Head of Legal at Covariant, an AI and robotics company out of Berkeley. He is a veteran tech lawyer with 20 years of experience at the intersection of emerging technology and regulated markets. Craig previously worked for Palantir Technologies, where he led the USG Partnerships team and served as Lead Counsel for the Intelligence Community business. Now at Covariant, Craig is part of a team building foundational models for the physical world, focusing on automation and AI integration in industrial settings.

In this episode...

Europe's aging workforce is fueling a growing demand for automated labor solutions, with US-based AI robotics companies stepping in to fill the gap. But this trend isn't just about technological innovation. For US-based companies entering the European market, success in this landscape requires a deep understanding of product capabilities and the global regulatory environment. To stay ahead, companies must make informed decisions on ethical AI use and on how to handle data — from collection to storage to use — without stepping on any global regulatory toes.

With emerging regulations like the EU AI Act and Internet of Things (IoT) legislation, it's now more important than ever for companies to integrate privacy considerations into product design from the start. By adopting privacy-by-design principles early on, companies like Covariant can meet anticipated global compliance requirements and create operational efficiencies, demonstrating their proactive approach to these regulatory challenges.

In this week's episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels chat with Craig Schwartz, the Head of Legal at Covariant, who shares invaluable insights on navigating the complex intersection of AI, robotics, and international privacy regulations. Craig explains the steps Covariant takes to stay ahead of global privacy regulations. He also discusses the critical need for legal professionals in tech to immerse themselves in technical product knowledge, the challenges of applying existing global privacy laws, such as GDPR, to cutting-edge technologies, and the potential impact of antitrust policies on innovation in the AI space.