Senators call targeted ads a security risk; ad groups push back

Sens. Ron Wyden and Cory Booker said the Citizen Lab report on AdFection, a technique delivering zero-click spyware via targeted ads, shows the ad industry needs reform. Google and IAB Europe disputed the findings, citing the removal of ad network Discover-Tech and layered defenses.

• Citizen Lab and Confiant detailed AdFection, zero-click spyware delivery via targeted ads
• Google and IAB Europe cut Discover-Tech from the ad ecosystem after the report
• Wyden and Booker have pushed a ban on targeted advertising since 2023
• Google says automated systems blocked over 99% of policy-violating ads last year