--- title: "Pixalate in ProPublica: 'Porn, Piracy, Fraud: What Lurks Inside Google's Black Box Ad Empire'" description: ProPublica utilized data provided by Pixalate examining PapayAds in a deep investigation of Google's online ad business. image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/20221220-g-ads-lead.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/20221220-g-ads-lead.jpg) [Ad Fraud](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/ad-fraud) | [Thought Leadership](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/thought-leadership) | [Privacy](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/privacy) | 1 min read # Pixalate in ProPublica: 'Porn, Piracy, Fraud: What Lurks Inside Google's Black Box Ad Empire' Written by [Pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/pixalate) Dec 22, 2022 8:00:00 AM *December 21, 2022 — By: Craig Silverman and Ruth Talbot for [ProPublica](https://www.propublica.org/)* Pixalate is 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."](https://www.propublica.org/article/google-display-ads-piracy-porn-fraud) ## Google's massive ad biz As part of its investigation, ProPublica examined an ad company called PapayAds. Here's what ProPublica wrote: *"...the story of Google’s relationship with PapayAds goes deeper. It also includes a possibly related scheme involving online piracy, fraudulent advertising and fake online traffic."* ## Pixalate's investigation into PapayAds with ProPublica ProPublica and Pixalate worked together to investigate ad transactions linked to PapayAds. Pixalate's findings are highlighted by ProPublica: ![pixalate-propublica-papayads](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/pixalate-propublica-papayads.png?width=654&height=500&name=pixalate-propublica-papayads.png) ProPublica added: "Pixalate’s findings did not attribute the automated traffic to a particular entity. It’s possible the bot activity was connected to PapayAds’ clients or another entity." ## Google, piracy, and missing privacy policies Pixalate also noted that PapayAds did not have a privacy policy (one has since been added), and Pixalate CEO Jalal Nasir expressed concern over Google's diligence. ![pixalate-propublica-papayads-jalal-quote](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/pixalate-propublica-papayads-jalal-quote.png?width=654&height=288&name=pixalate-propublica-papayads-jalal-quote.png) ## Read more of ProPublica's investigation into Google's ad business Read the whole article on [ProPublica](https://www.propublica.org/article/google-display-ads-piracy-porn-fraud). ### 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’s 2022 Summary of the Status of Key Federal and State Online Privacy Legislation](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/2022-summary-of-key-federal-and-state-online-privacy-legislation) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [Pixalate Week in Review: December 19 - 23, 2022 →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/december-23-2022-weekly-update) ## You May Also Like These Stories on Ad Fraud [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/vMVPD%20Apps%20Traffic%20Analysis%20Report%20blog%20cover.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalate-releases-global-top-20-most-popular-ctv-virtual-multichannel-video-programming-distribution-vmvpd-apps-reports-for-q1-2026) [Ad Fraud](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/ad-fraud) ### [Global Top 20 Most Popular CTV Virtual Multichannel Video Programming Distribution (vMVPD) Apps Reports for Q1 2026: ‘Hulu’ No. 1 on Apple TV, ‘Tubi’ Leads on Roku, ‘Pluto TV’ leads on Amazon Fire TV](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalate-releases-global-top-20-most-popular-ctv-virtual-multichannel-video-programming-distribution-vmvpd-apps-reports-for-q1-2026) Jun 10, 2026 9:00:00 AM | 3 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog%20Media/2026%20Covers%20and%20Images/MONTHLY%20MOST%20COMMON%20MOBILE%20AD%20FRAUD%20TYPES%20GOOGLE%20-%20APPLE%20BLOG%20COVER.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalates-may-2026-most-common-mobile-app-ad-fraud-types) [Ad Fraud](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/ad-fraud) ### [Pixalate Releases May 2026 Most Common Mobile App Ad Fraud Types: ‘High Risk Device ID’ Most Common Type Across Google Play Store (32%); ‘High Risk IP’ Most Common on Apple App Store (48%)](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalates-may-2026-most-common-mobile-app-ad-fraud-types) Jun 9, 2026 9:00:00 AM | 2 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog%20Media/2026%20Covers%20and%20Images/MONTHLY%20MOST%20COMMON%20CTV%20AD%20FRAUD%20TYPES%20BLOG%20COVER.jpg) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalates-may-2026-most-common-programmatic-ad-fraud-types-in-ctv-apps) [Ad Fraud](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/ad-fraud) ### [Pixalate Releases May 2026 Most Common Programmatic Ad Fraud Types in CTV Apps: ‘Proxy’ Most Common on Samsung Smart TV & LG Smart TV, ‘App Spoofing’ Most Common on Amazon Fire TV & Apple TV](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalates-may-2026-most-common-programmatic-ad-fraud-types-in-ctv-apps) Jun 9, 2026 9:00:00 AM | 3 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/google-ads-propublica-article#) # 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. Among the reasons why ad traffic may be deemed invalid is it is a result of non-human traffic (spiders, bots, etc.), or activity designed to produce fraudulent traffic.” ** ** *By clicking Download and entering your email address, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and have read and acknowledge our [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/2024-08-20_Pixalate_Privacy_Policy.pdf). *Copyright © 2025 Pixalate** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * × ## Subscribe to the Pixalate Blog The first step in ad fraud prevention. Loading... 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