--- title: "Pixalate Week in Review: December 9 - 13, 2019" description: Pixalate reviews this week's news in the programmatic ad fraud space. Find the most critical ad tech and privacy news from 9-13 December 2019. image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/bribe.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/bribe.png) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) | 2 min read # Pixalate Week in Review: December 9 - 13, 2019 Written by [Pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/pixalate) Dec 14, 2019 9:00:00 AM This week's review of ad fraud and quality in the digital advertising space. ### **1. BuzzFeed News: Former Facebook contractor bribed to reactivate banned ad accounts** ![bribe](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/bribe.png?width=600&name=bribe.png) "A Facebook contractor was paid thousands of dollars in bribes by a shady affiliate marketer to reactivate ad accounts that had been banned due to policy violations, a BuzzFeed News investigation has found," reported [BuzzFeed News](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/facebook-fired-employee-bribed-ads-inc). "Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia told BuzzFeed News that the revelation of a Facebook worker being bribed to reactivate scammy ads was further evidence of the unaccountability of platforms and the corruption endemic to digital advertising markets," the article added. ### **2. How has GDPR impacted the UK programmatic ad space?** ![gdpr-target](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/gdpr-target.png?width=600&name=gdpr-target.png) "The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), enacted in May 2018, was supposed to cause a huge backlash against programmatic trading in the UK," wrote [eMarketer](https://content-na1.emarketer.com/why-gdpr-didnt-inhibit-programmatic-growth-in-the-uk-as-anticipated), "[but] the longer-term impact on programmatic ad spend has not been substantial." ### **3. Should you trust SSAI in OTT/CTV?** ![ad-fraud-by-device-and-ad-type-ssai-ctv-ott (1)](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/ad-fraud-by-device-and-ad-type-ssai-ctv-ott%20(1).png?width=600&name=ad-fraud-by-device-and-ad-type-ssai-ctv-ott%20(1).png) This op-ed published on [MarTech Series](https://martechseries.com/mts-insights/guest-authors/trust-ssai-ctv-advertising/) examines the use of Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI) in Connected TV (CTV) and over-the-top (OTT) advertising. "Pixalate, a company that provides a fraud management system, believes invalid SSAI to be the [major contributor to the fraud](https://blog.pixalate.com/what-is-server-side-ad-insertion-ssai-fraud-ctv-ott) on OTT/CTV," the article reads. The article continues: "Here’s the hard truth: [Per Pixalate], 26% of SSAI transactions in programmatic CTV are invalid. With the help of machines, fraudsters mimic SSAI proxy servers. But because this technology is such a common practice, it’s rarely subjected to mistrust. That’s why such schemes in most cases aren’t identified and addressed timely." ### **4. NYT: Facebook sues Hong Kong company ILikeAd, alleging ad fraud** **![court-gavel-sue](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/court-gavel-sue.png?width=600&name=court-gavel-sue.png)** "Facebook Inc on Thursday sued ... Hong Kong company [ILikeAd Media] that it said used malware to bait people into clicking on celebrities' photos and bogus advertising links, so it could run ads for counterfeit goods, diet pills and male enhancement supplements," reported the New York Times, via Reuters. ### **5. Google Chrome to limit cross-site tracking in February** ![chrome](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/chrome.jpg?width=600&name=chrome.jpg) "Google is less than two months away from instituting a policy change within the next iteration of Chrome that will severely limit cross-site cookie sharing, and most ad tech companies seem blithely unaware," reported [AdExchanger](https://adexchanger.com/privacy/google-will-limit-cross-site-tracking-in-chrome-by-default-starting-in-february/). "Starting Feb. 4, and to coincide with the release of Chrome 80, Google Chrome will stop sending third-party cookies in cross-site requests unless the cookies are secure and flagged using an internet standard called SameSite." ### 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 Week in Review: December 2 - 6, 2019](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/programmatic-ad-fraud-news-week-in-review-december-6-2019) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [Pixalate’s 2019 US Mobile Ad Supply Chain Safety Report: Assessing Ad Fraud Risks From Chinese, Russian, & Other Foreign-Registered Apps →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/mobile-ad-supply-chain-safety-report-2019) ## 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-week-in-review-december-13-2019#) # 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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