--- title: "Pixalate Week in Review: December 19 - 23, 2022" description: Pixalate reviews this week's news in the programmatic ad fraud space. Find the most critical ad tech and privacy news from December 19 - 23, 2022. image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Piotr%20-%20Blog%20Graphics%20(8)-1.jpg --- [![pixalate-full-logo](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixalate_Logos/pixalate-full-logo.jpg?width=150&height=60&name=pixalate-full-logo.jpg "pixalate-full-logo")](https://www.pixalate.com) Search **Menu** ** ** ![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/pixalate-blog-bg.png) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) | 3 min read # Pixalate Week in Review: December 19 - 23, 2022 Written by [Liz Margolis](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/liz-margolis) Dec 23, 2022 12:00:00 PM This week's review of ad fraud and privacy in the digital advertising space: ## Pixalate in ProPublica: 'Porn, Piracy, Fraud: What Lurks Inside Google's Black Box Ad Empire' **![20221220-g-ads-lead](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20221220-g-ads-lead.jpg?width=2800&height=1867&name=20221220-g-ads-lead.jpg) ** This week, Pixalate was featured in ProPublica's comprehensive examination of Google's online advertising ecosystem and problems that have arisen from what ProPublica calls the "Black Box Ad Empire." Read the whole article on [ProPublica](https://www.propublica.org/article/google-display-ads-piracy-porn-fraud) and check out our blog about it [here](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/google-ads-propublica-article). ## Pixalate’s vMVPD November 2022 Traffic Analysis Report: Top 25 vMVPD CTV Apps Account for 70%+ of Ad Spend on Roku Devices ![Pixalate’s vMVPD Traffic Analysis Report_ Graphic_V4](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixalate%E2%80%99s%20vMVPD%20Traffic%20Analysis%20Report_%20Graphic_V4.png?width=1920&height=1080&name=Pixalate%E2%80%99s%20vMVPD%20Traffic%20Analysis%20Report_%20Graphic_V4.png) Pixalate released its [November 2022 vMVPD Traffic Analysis Report](https://www.pixalate.com/november-2022-vmvpd-traffic-analysis-report?hsCtaTracking=61b1ac95-55e9-4d9a-9b3d-c7ee4552e931%7Cddb62f00-7c41-4bb3-a32c-9531f6d10261). In this report, we dive deep into vMVPD (Virtual MultiChannel Video Programming Distributor) apps - such as Sling TV and XUMO - to surface programmatic ad insights across Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices. Check out more findings in our [full blog post](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/november-2022-vmvpd-traffic-analysis-report). ## Pixalate’s 2022 Summary of the Status of Key Federal and State Online Privacy Legislation **![Summary of the Status of Key Federal and State Online Privacy Legislation_Cover graphic_V1](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Summary%20of%20the%20Status%20of%20Key%20Federal%20and%20State%20Online%20Privacy%20Legislation_Cover%20graphic_V1.png?width=1920&height=1080&name=Summary%20of%20the%20Status%20of%20Key%20Federal%20and%20State%20Online%20Privacy%20Legislation_Cover%20graphic_V1.png) ** Several bills have been proposed in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures with the goal of strengthening children’s privacy online and protecting minors from invasive advertising and inappropriate content. As we close out the year, we examined two important federal bills and two key state laws and where they stand at the end of 2022. You can read our summary [here](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/2022-summary-of-key-federal-and-state-online-privacy-legislation). ## Mobile App Manual Review under COPPA Rule: ‘Pegasus Flying Horse Simulator' ![Children’s Online Privacy Compliance Review Series_Pegasus Flying Horse Simulator](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Children%E2%80%99s%20Online%20Privacy%20Compliance%20Review%20Series_Pegasus%20Flying%20Horse%20Simulator.png?width=1920&height=1080&name=Children%E2%80%99s%20Online%20Privacy%20Compliance%20Review%20Series_Pegasus%20Flying%20Horse%20Simulator.png) Pixalate continued its [Mobile App Manual Reviews According to COPPA](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/coppa-manual-review-series-faq) series, containing the detailed factors the [Trust & Safety Advisory Board](https://www.pixalate.com/trust-and-safety-advisory-board) educators used to assess an app’s child-directedness. This week we reviewed Pegasus Flying Horse Simulator in the Google Play store. Our reviewer discusses how the subjective factors set forth in the COPPA Rule apply to each app and factor into the reviewer's determination as to whether the app is child-directed or general audience (i.e., it is not targeting children). Read the full review [here](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/app-review-series-pegasus-flying-horse-simulator). ## Mobile App Manual Review under COPPA Rule: ‘Clumsy Ninja' **![Children’s Online Privacy Compliance Review Series_Talking James Squirrel - Clumsy Ninja](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Children%E2%80%99s%20Online%20Privacy%20Compliance%20Review%20Series_Talking%20James%20Squirrel%20-%20Clumsy%20Ninja.png?width=1920&height=1080&name=Children%E2%80%99s%20Online%20Privacy%20Compliance%20Review%20Series_Talking%20James%20Squirrel%20-%20Clumsy%20Ninja.png) ** This week we also reviewed Clumsy Ninja in both the Apple App and Google Play Stores. Read the full review [here](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/app-review-series-clumsy-ninja). ## Pixalate Q2 2022 IVT Benchmarks: IVT 2x More Likely on Roku Apps Without App-Ads.txt ![Pixalate - Q2 2022 IVT Benchmark Report (1)](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixalate%20-%20Q2%202022%20IVT%20Benchmark%20Report%20(1).png?width=960&height=540&name=Pixalate%20-%20Q2%202022%20IVT%20Benchmark%20Report%20(1).png) Pixalate published the[ Q2 2022 Invalid Traffic (IVT) Benchmarks](https://www.pixalate.com/q2-2022-ivt-benchmarks-report) report last month, describing IVT distribution in programmatic advertising impressions. It covered a wide variety of data points, so we decided we would break it down further and highlight some interesting findings. This week we compared CTV apps with app-ads.txt and apps without app-ads.txt across the Roku and Amazon Fire TV stores. Roku apps appear to show a much bigger correlation to the use of app-ads.txt and lower IVT rates. Find out more in our [blog post](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/q2-2022-ivt-benchmarks-ctv-apps-with-app-ads.txt). [![Download the Report](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2364596/feaacb4d-c09b-4ce5-8e51-4bee67d400c1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2364596/feaacb4d-c09b-4ce5-8e51-4bee67d400c1)   ### Search Blog Search ### Follow Pixalate ### Subscribe to our blog *By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use ](https://www.pixalate.com/terms)and [Privacy Policy.](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) Previous Story [← Pixalate in ProPublica: 'Porn, Piracy, Fraud: What Lurks Inside Google's Black Box Ad Empire'](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/google-ads-propublica-article) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [Pixalate's 2022 Year in Review →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/2022-year-in-review) ## You May Also Like These Stories on Weekly Recaps [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/pixalate-week-review-june-13.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-20-2025) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) ### [Pixalate Week in Review: June 16 - June 20, 2025](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-20-2025) Jun 20, 2025 11:09:13 AM | 3 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/pixalate-week-review-june-13.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-13-2025) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) ### [Pixalate Week in Review: June 9 - June 13, 2025](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-13-2025) Jun 13, 2025 11:39:50 AM | 3 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/June-6-Pixalate-Recap.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-6-2025) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) ### [Pixalate Week in Review: June 2 - June 6, 2025](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-6-2025) Jun 6, 2025 1:00:13 PM | 2 min read ** ### Subscribe to our blog *By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use ](https://www.pixalate.com/terms)and [Privacy Policy.](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) ![pixalate-logo-red-small](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2018NewTemplate/pixalate-logo-red-small.png?width=208&name=pixalate-logo-red-small.png "pixalate-logo-red-small") ** By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) Products [Analytics](https://www.pixalate.com/products/analytics) [Blocking](https://www.pixalate.com/products/blocking) [Media Rating Terminal](https://www.pixalate.com/products/mrt) [Publisher Trust Indexes](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=publisherTrustIndex) [Seller Trust Indexes](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=publisherTrustIndex) [IoT Device Rankings](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=iotDeviceReach) Resources [Blog](https://blog.pixalate.com/) [Press](https://www.pixalate.com/press) [Careers](https://www.pixalate.com/jobs) [Team](https://info.pixalate.com/pixalate-leadership-team) Contact Email [** sales@pixalate.com ](mailto:sales@pixalate.com) [** privacy@pixalate.com ](mailto:privacy@pixalate.com) US: [** +1 888 749 2528 ](tel:+1%20888%20749%202528) EU: [** +44 (0)800 011 2050 ](tel:+44%20(0)800%20011%202050) Slack: [Join ATSAPI Slack Channel ](https://atsapi-pixalate.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-10dtow5cj-OEtlNr5yzJkrZMQUqcEEow#/shared-invite/email) Offices Global Offices US 1775 Greensboro Station Place, Suite 425, McLean, VA 22102 UK 20 North Audley Street London, W1K 6WE, United Kingdom EU 10 Earlsfort Terrace Dublin 2, D02 T380, Ireland Singapore 10 Anson Road, #22-02 International Plaza, Singapore 079903 [![facebook](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/facebook.png) ](https://www.facebook.com/pixalate) [![x](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/twitter-x.png) ](https://twitter.com/pixalateinc) [![linkedin](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/linkedin.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/pixalate) ![wechat](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/wechat.png) [![slack](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/slack.png) ](https://atsapi-pixalate.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-10dtow5cj-OEtlNr5yzJkrZMQUqcEEow#/shared-invite/email) [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) [GDPR Compliance](https://www.pixalate.com/gdpr) Disclaimer Copyright © 2025 Pixalate [Back to top **](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/december-23-2022-weekly-update#) # Disclaimer Disclaimer: The content of this page reflects Pixalate’s opinions with respect to the factors that Pixalate believes can be useful to the digital media industry. Any proprietary data shared is grounded in Pixalate’s proprietary technology and analytics, which Pixalate is continuously evaluating and updating. Any references to outside sources should not be construed as endorsements. Pixalate’s opinions are just that - opinion, not facts or guarantees. Per the MRC, “'Fraud' is not intended to represent fraud as defined in various laws, statutes and ordinances or as conventionally used in U.S. Court or other legal proceedings, but rather a custom definition strictly for advertising measurement purposes. Also per the MRC, “‘Invalid Traffic’ is defined generally as traffic that does not meet certain ad serving quality or completeness criteria, or otherwise does not represent legitimate ad traffic that should be included in measurement counts. 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