An investigation reveals global surveillance based on digital advertising.

 In a recent investigation spearheaded by Joseph Cox at 404 Media, a startling revelation has come to light: hundreds of thousands of widely-used apps, including popular ones like 9gag, Kik, and various caller ID apps, are intricately woven into a global surveillance network. This intricate system commences with innocuous in-app advertisements and ultimately converges into a mass monitoring tool named Patternz, explicitly marketed to national security agencies. What sets Patternz apart is its capability to track users comprehensively, divulging details ranging from their locations and hobbies to family connections, thereby constructing expansive user profiles.

The surveillance prowess of Patternz is rooted in the convoluted data supply chain of real-time bidding in digital advertising, a chain involving both minor advertising firms and industry giants such as Google.

Originally devised as a homeland security platform, Patternz is adept at compiling exhaustive information about individuals from app data, encompassing GPS coordinates, app usage patterns, phone specifications, and even individual interests. Noteworthy is the scale of monitoring; Patternz processes an astounding 90 terabytes of data daily, originating from approximately 600,000 apps. Unlike conventional app tracking methods, Patternz doesn't necessitate direct involvement from app developers; instead, it seamlessly operates through embedded ad networks and platforms integrated into the apps.

The investigation prompted Google and PubMatic to sever connections with a company associated with Patternz upon inquiries from 404 Media. Despite this response, the findings underscore significant apprehensions regarding the potential misuse of advertising technology for government surveillance purposes and the glaring lack of oversight in data sharing within the expansive real-time bidding ecosystem.