--- title: "Pixalate Week in Review: July 27 - 31, 2020" description: Pixalate reviews this week's news in the programmatic ad fraud space. Find the most critical ad tech and privacy news from 27-31 July 2020. image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/mobile-phone-hacked.png --- [![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/mobile-phone-hacked.png) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) | 2 min read # Pixalate Week in Review: July 27 - 31, 2020 Written by [Pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/pixalate) Jul 31, 2020 5:10:00 PM This week's review of ad fraud and quality in the digital advertising space. ### **1: Mobile app ad fraud scheme uncovered** ![mobile-phone-hacked](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/mobile-phone-hacked.png?width=600&name=mobile-phone-hacked.png) A new mobile app ad fraud scheme, Hydra, is estimated to have cost advertisers over $130 million, reported [Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/marketers-have-a-big-ad-fraud-problem-advertising-insider-newsletter-2020-7). "In a nutshell, Hydra creates fake app traffic, defrauding marketers whose ads never get seen by actual humans," wrote Business Insider. ### **2. eMarketer ad spend outlook for US, China, and the rest of the world** ### ![top 10](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/top%2010.png?width=400&name=top%2010.png) "The US will remain the largest market worldwide for total and digital advertising for the foreseeable future," wrote [eMarketer](https://content-na1.emarketer.com/how-our-ad-spending-outlook-has-changed-us-china-rest-of-world) regarding its ad spending outlook for the world's leading nations. The U.S. will spend $226 billion in total ad spend this year, while China will be second with $105 billion spent. ### 3. U.S. ad economy outpaces GDP in first half of 2020 ![money-flying-away](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/money-flying-away.png?width=600&name=money-flying-away.png) "Nearly two quarters into the U.S. economic recession, advertising appears to be outpacing the U.S. economy, according to an analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and Standard Media Index (SMI)," reported [MediaPost](https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/354278/us-ad-economy-outpaces-gdp-during-q2-and-first-h.html). The estimated real GDP dropped 32.9% in Q2, while the U.S. ad economy dropped 27.4% in the same time period, per MediaPost. ### 4. Server-side ad insertion (SSAI) a 'double-edged sword' ![ott-video-measurement-television-ctv](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/ott-video-measurement-television-ctv.png?width=600&name=ott-video-measurement-television-ctv.png) "Being one of the most crucial innovations since 2017 that has allowed OTT video to become a viable industry, SSAI, at the same time, is fraught with the risk of ad fraud," wrote The View Points' Daniel Elad in an op-ed on [TV Technology](https://www.tvtechnology.com/opinion/the-double-edged-sword-of-server-side-ad-insertion). "Similar to a double-edge sword, SSAI can both power up CTV and OTT publishers with a new and more profitable way of ad serving, and at the same time, leave space for fraudulent activities," the op-ed added. ### **5. Google proposes 'trust tokens'** ### ![trust-handshake-digital](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/trust-handshake-digital.png?width=600&name=trust-handshake-digital.png) "Trust Tokens are available now for developer testing, with Google planning to move to 'live testing soon,'" reported [9 to 5 Google](https://9to5google.com/2020/07/31/google-trust-tokens/), citing a new [Google blog post](https://blog.google/products/ads-commerce/improving-user-privacy-in-digital-advertising/). Google's blog post adds: "One of the proposed APIs, for trust tokens that could combat ad fraud by distinguishing between bots and real users, is now available for testing by developers, and more will move to live testing soon." ### 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 [← CTV 360: Pixalate’s Seller Trust Index And Paving The Way For The Decade Of OTT/CTV Growth](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/ctv-360-pixalate-ctv-seller-trust-index) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [Pixalate Week in Review: August 3 - 7, 2020 →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/programmatic-ad-fraud-news-august-7-2020) ## 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/programmatic-ad-fraud-news-july-31-2020#) # 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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