Google shared sensitive user data with Russian advertising tech company

ProPublica has revealed that until June 23, Google shared sensitive user data with a sanctioned advertising technology company owned by Russia’s largest state bank. This comes just four months after the Senate Intelligence Committee warned the tech giant to stay alert to potential exploitation by Russia and Russia-linked entities after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Nearly 700 user data shared

According to research and data from digital advertising analytics company Adalytics, Google allows RuTarget, a Russian company that helps brands and agencies buy ads, to access and save data about people browsing websites and apps in Ukraine and other parts of the world. gave. Although the ad technology company was added to the US Treasury’s list of sanctioned entities on February 24, RuTarget is known to have received nearly 700 user data samples from Google.

What data was shared?

The analysis showed that Google shared data on users viewing Ukraine-based websites. Critical information such as users’ mobile phone numbers, IP addresses, location and interests, and details about their online activities can be used by the Russian government to track people or places of interest.

A Google spokesperson told ProPublica that the company blocked RuTarget from using its services in March. However, Google acknowledged that ProPublica and Adalytics received user and ad purchase data from Google without warning.

What can this data be used for?

One of the biggest concerns is data from global internet users transferred to companies during the digital ad purchasing process. ProPublica says this repository of user data, called bid feed data, is used as part of the half-trillion dollar digital advertising industry dominated by Google.

What does it mean?

ProPublica says that when users enter a site, this data is auctioned in real time, and within milliseconds, data collected about users is shared with potential ad buyers to help the user decide whether or not to see ads.

Ad-buying companies such as RuTarget can receive and store this offer flow data whether or not they submit offers. Since Google operates the world’s largest ad buying exchange, the more data and information RuTarget connects with ad exchanges like Google’s, the more data and information it can collect.