Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/08/amazon_google_accused_of_monetizing/
Source: The Register
Title: Amazon, Google asked to explain why they were serving ads on sites hosting CSAM
Feedly Summary: And US government adverts at that, say senators
US Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) on Friday sent letters to the CEOs of Amazon and Google asking why their ad businesses fund websites hosting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and allow government ads to appear on sites with illegal imagery.…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
**Summary:** US Senators have raised concerns regarding Amazon and Google’s advertising practices on websites that host child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The inquiry points out potential failures in brand safety tools and the efficacy of AI technology used for content evaluation, highlighting significant implications for ad tech transparency and accountability in preventing the monetization of harmful content.
**Detailed Description:**
The recent correspondence from Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal has exposed serious issues in how major tech firms manage advertising on platforms associated with child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The letters highlight:
– **Direct Inquiry to CEOs:** The letters addressed to the CEOs of Google and Amazon question why their advertising is placed on websites known for hosting CSAM, specifically imgbb.com.
– **Research Findings:** According to investigations, Google was found to have served ads on imgbb.com, a site flagged for hosting illegal content since at least 2021.
– **Remaining Opaque:** The Senators have raised concerns about the effectiveness of ad verification firms and technology, including the assertion from DoubleVerify about their “Universal Content Intelligence.”
– **Transparency Issues:** Brand safety tools lack the transparency necessary for clients to understand their functionality and effectiveness, leading to potentially deceptive advertising practices.
– **Historical Evidence**: Adalytics reported discovering CSAM while researching how US government ads were served to bots, revealing the inadequacies of the ad ecosystem to protect against such placements.
– **Response from Companies:** Both Google and Amazon have stated their commitment to tackling this issue, suggesting measures are being implemented to block such websites and improve safety protocols.
**Key Points:**
– **Brand Safety:** The letters and research signal a critical review of the effectiveness of prevailing brand safety tools, which seem unable to prevent ads from appearing alongside illegal content.
– **AI Limitations:** The limitations of AI in accurately identifying harmful content suggest that reliance on automated solutions for safeguarding advertising practices may be inadequate.
– **Industry Accountability:** This inquiry calls for greater accountability among ad tech companies, including a need for robust mechanisms to ensure that ads do not inadvertently support illegal activities.
– **Legislative Oversight:** The Senators’ actions underline the growing legislative scrutiny of the ad tech industry and its responsibilities in preventing the distribution of harmful content, indicating a potential shift towards stricter regulation.
This situation emphasizes the need for security and compliance professionals to advocate for better transparency, enhanced technology solutions, and robust oversight mechanisms within the ad tech ecosystem to protect against the risk of inappropriate content monetization.