CDT: Advertisers Knowingly Sponsor Adware
The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) has released “Following the Money II”, a follow-up to a report released in March that identified prominent businesses that advertise through the Zango (AKA 180Solutions) adware platform. “Following the Money II” finds that 60% of ads served by adware distributors placed there were knowingly paid for by the advertisers.
“It’s deeply frustrating that legitimate companies continue to willingly do business with adware distributors known to be engaged in unethical, and in some cases illegal, distribution practices,” said CDT deputy director Ari Schwartz in a statement. “Clearly these companies haven’t gotten the message about how fed up consumers are with adware and spyware. I can’t understand why any legitimate company would risk tarnishing its brand by association with such practices.”
The study looked at 380 ads served by Zango and Direct Revenue, and “followed the money” from the adware provider all the way back to the advertiser. The CDT also found that 55% of adware ads were placed there directly by the advertiser, while only 5% were placed there blindly by intermediaries. The study found that ads from large, well-known companies tended to be placed more by intermediaries, where the advertiser has no say in how its ads are placed than ads from lesser-known brands.
UPDATE: Zango has posted its own retort to the CDT report, which can be found on the company’s blog under the heading UPDATE – Response to Intermediaries Report
Reader Comments.
Did the CDT ever think that just maybe advertisers like the outstanding response rates they receive from adware?
If this is so “annoying” as Mr. Schwartz alleges, why do consumers click, respond and convert at such a high rate to these ads?
I agree with Larry’s comment. Is the CDT in the business of consulting to advertising companies now?
Leave a Comment
Article Sponsor
More News
-
Loading ...
Latest News
- Facebook to Serve Mobile Ads in Coming Weeks February 6th 2012 ADOTAS – According to a Financial Times report, Facebook will [...] more »
- Survey: 39 Percent of Mobile Users Responded to Super Bowl Ads Via Mobile February 6th 2012 ADOTAS - During the Super Bowl yesterday, mobile ad network [...] more »
- Sponsormob Leads the Way Into RTB for Mobile February 3rd 2012 ADOTAS – For more than half a decade, Berlin-based tech [...] more »
- Weird Study: Mobile Purchasing While in the Bathroom on the Rise February 3rd 2012 DM CONFIDENTIAL - According to 11mark, three-quarters of Americans with mobile [...] more »
- This Week’s New Hires February 3rd 2012 ADOTAS – Another week, another round of new gigs. Here [...] more »
- Two Surveys: What Are We Doing with Mobile Devices During the Super Bowl? February 2nd 2012 ADOTAS - With the Super Bowl fast approaching and the [...] more »
- Facebook Files for IPO, Seeks $5 Billion February 1st 2012 ADOTAS – Well, it finally happened: Facebook filed with the [...] more »
Features
- Reaching the Multi-Tasker in 2012 February 6th 2012
- Fuel Social Conversation with Web Content February 6th 2012
- Sponsormob Leads the Way Into RTB for Mobile February 3rd 2012
- Video: Social Media Monitoring Comes to “The Future of Engagement” February 3rd 2012
- Facebook’s Timeline: Meant for Brands All Along? February 3rd 2012
Spotlight
Sponsormob Leads the Way Into RTB for MobileADOTAS – For more than half a decade, Berlin-based tech firm Sponsormob has remained relevant in an industry characterized by [...] more...
Reader Favorites
Classifieds
- PS Technical Writer - SEO Data Analyst
- Interactive Project Manager
- Media Buyer
- PHP Software Engineer (Facebook Platform/Social AP
- SEO/Marketing Internship at Green Education Startu
Recent Comments
- The Difference Between Content Marketing and Custom Content | Using social media in content marketing | Scoop.it: [...] background-position: 50% 0px; background-color:#222222; background-repeat : no-repeat; }
- Ecommerce Industry Roundup – Week of 1/30/12 « Ecommerce x Acadaca: [...] Managing Your Privacy in a Public Digital World via Adotas - Believe it or not,
- Going Beyond Click-Throughs to Rope In Consumers: A White Paper Excerpt - ADOTAS | Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) | Scoop.it: [...] background-position: 50% 0px; background-color:#222222; background-repeat : no-repeat; }
- Latest Weird News | Weird & Strange: [...] go to the bathroom without their mobile phone. Seventy-five percent of … Read more
