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 research, presented by Zahra Moti, a PhD student from Radboud University, delves into the pervasive and often problematic landscape of online tracking and advertising on websites directed at children. The talk highlights how children, a particularly vulnerable demographic, are exposed to targeted and inappropriate advertisements despite existing legal frameworks designed to protect them. The study addresses a critical gap in large-scale empirical research focusing specifically on child-directed online content, providing a comprehensive measurement of advertising practices, third-party trackers, and fingerprinting attempts.
AI review
This research meticulously exposes the pervasive and problematic landscape of online tracking and advertising on child-directed websites. Through novel methodology, it quantifies widespread targeted and improper ads, revealing critical failures in regulatory enforcement and platform responsibility. The findings provide indispensable data for policymakers and industry alike, demanding immediate action to protect children's online privacy.