Targeted and Troublesome: Tracking and Advertising on Children's Websites
Zahra Moti, Asuman Senol, Hamid Bostani, Frederik Zuiderveen Borgesius, Veelasha Moonsamy, Arunesh Mathur
IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy 2024 · Day 2 · Continental Ballroom 4
This talk, presented by Zahra Moti from Radboud University, delves into the pervasive and often problematic landscape of **online tracking** and **targeted advertising** on **child-directed websites**. The research, a collaborative effort with colleagues from Radboud University and other institutions, highlights how digital platforms exploit user behavior, creating detailed profiles for monetization, a practice particularly concerning when the users are children. The study not only investigates the prevalence of tracking mechanisms but also uncovers the alarming frequency of inappropriate and disturbing advertisements displayed to this vulnerable demographic.
AI review
This research provides a crucial, large-scale empirical measurement of tracking and targeted advertising on child-directed websites. The sophisticated methodology uncovered pervasive non-compliance with privacy regulations and an alarming frequency of inappropriate ads, offering invaluable data for policymakers and practitioners.