--- title: "Pixalate Week in Review: July 16 - 20, 2018" description: Pixalate reviews this week's news in the programmatic ad fraud space. Find the most critical ad tech and privacy news from 16-20 July 2018. image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/blockchain-image-blog-pixalate.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/blockchain-image-blog-pixalate.png) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) | 2 min read # Pixalate Week in Review: July 16 - 20, 2018 Written by [Tyler Loechner](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/tyler-loechner) Jul 20, 2018 11:30:02 AM This week's review of ad fraud and quality in the digital advertising space. ### **1. Facebook, Disney among brands potentially impacted by mobile app ad fraud laundering discovery** ![mobile-app-laundering-title-page](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/mobile-app-laundering-title-page.png?width=600&name=mobile-app-laundering-title-page.png) In the wake of our [MegaCast app ad fraud discovery](https://info.pixalate.com/e1t/c/*W4jq44c5psKbmN7DNFNBnk4k30/*W3mrXrf8kXC54W2WMZ2S6t-6yq0/5/f18dQhb0S65N6Syrd5N12gRkzF2v8PV8sS042F8vd7W7gc4dF5gSrqCW5Ct_d13gtS38W89Krtp8ryY5hN7tL0cTlwTNBW6fGhcp3x8VsqW6tqCj270m58_W6s8VZK8Ls5LvVyq4B57GMNGDW9ldQGm45Rj6bW4k9KSJ24qjyMW4dCSQY5ZPXHyW1pGnNK3L-Qb8W8tXcSW1BvJsSW52PcjM1ddC2vW2QVSKN64HnfnV9P8p_3ZcSRvW4Bcd7b4gmsbBW45QmyK7m0HZlN3Lx2HJVWlZqW1BSQ-W2S0wndVBNQMQ84hXSvW1x2FKG7D4kLGW64nwbV67v5_yW5D6pzy75M1FsW2Hz24188CxC7W4NHq8-3WrKPvW5FkM4d6wvtFRW2VyxRb28kSl3W6m-BCc4k_0wBW9c0_713vHsPxW6YSH1j4v5wBSW3ZDbsZ1D9j_XW6HcwJn6RqM08W3hJlHg9bt9qnW7_lJmb4S2yPyW5mX8d63dZNWtW3JTHYs4t-cmxW6rls-k7-ksk3VgjhP66673hyW7d995D7LTVVDW4LCG6m5Jxdm5W5Hp_SN4hMChkW8cMYPN5nwWY2W9ccxqh7mcXkDN1ZqvW3XBHp6dRyDq003), we continue to explore the impact of this apparent widespread app laundering and automatic activity. Based on conservative estimates, we believe brands were losing over $75 million per year to this alleged ad fraud activity. Upon further research into the activity, Pixalate was able to identify and verify some of the [exact brands that we believe were impacted by this event](https://info.pixalate.com/e1t/c/*W4jq44c5psKbmN7DNFNBnk4k30/*W6yDh0R3gKhKXW1Fw7HZ69Ct_20/5/f18dQhb0SfHC9dZyjHW5w5_X61m4DtzW7t5csN57kpKdW6Blzmx1Nvw7TVM7Yn31sK_ppW8BSj4q1lQsvYW61p2Zp8tBGPpW1nPchg8CtcXxW1kkLtv65kk2yW8BtSCb1rfb5sN5yL6tCLLZ7LW8q-2Zx8q63fdW60C65n25xrfhW1xbSZZ4synWyVcPNC519HN_8W41LJdT3Td_2KW3gGSSh2HVTVMW1gJs3l8XWrl7W5Tkt5q5_fpm4W7dDxTN7mWsnXW7dzcsS51vDDKW6vYDb47v70tSW4RYYVx3ryrVxW3kY-MT4zVpq_W8gjY6L8WBKbVW56sy_82NhXH1W58SqHQ2KmvCGW2v47m558tc5kN52QvSV79ctWW8V-l4G8X4d-bW59NRYK1k0KqkW5p2vxm7nK8WwW2Nbtm67v0Qv_N6Wps5K60BbJVrBbZW4Ccc1ZN7q6BMrmVBCzW6Xw1rn3p1rMNW1hc1XV4lBZ6FW75Prqb73QsnmW1d5pgb5vyrXvW1RZSFC5X8d0bW4TqVwq2cyH2GW5wDqGJ2Vff2jW3Zjwzj5cxfykW5HDFQb9lL6KSW4vrl7V66p-mTN1WPqF4pW00Pf88G9n911), including Facebook, Disney, Instagram, Hulu, Volvo, and more. Click here to [download our whitepaper](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Reports_and_Documents/Brands%20impacted%20by%20apparent%20MegaCast%20app%20laundering%20discovery%20-%20Pixalate.pdf) or learn more in [MediaPost](https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/322399/mobile-app-ad-fraud-can-cost-brands-up-to-75m.html). ### **2. GDPR compliance has become a 'legal headache'** **![gdpr-target](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Email_Imagery/Weekly%20blog%20email/gdpr-target.png?width=600&name=gdpr-target.png)** According to [eMarketer](https://content-na1.emarketer.com/getting-vendors-compliant-with-gdpr-is-a-legal-headache?ecid=NL1015), citing a recent survey from TrustArc and Dimensional Research, "[a]bout a quarter of respondents said their new data policies and procedures and cookie management protocols are fully compliant with the new regulations ... but just 13% said that their vendor risk management programs were GDPR compliant." Working with vendors that are not GDPR compliant could lead to GDPR fines, eMarketer notes. (Note: Pixalate is [GDPR compliant](https://www.pixalate.com/pixalate-gdpr-ready-what-it-means).) ### **3. Will blockchain add to the 'tech tax'?** ![blockchain-image-blog-pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/blockchain-image-blog-pixalate.png?width=600&name=blockchain-image-blog-pixalate.png) "The Interactive Advertising Bureau's Tech Lab on Tuesday revealed details of a Blockchain Working Group pilot program that is designed to answer [how blockchain would be best applied to online advertising]," wrote [Advertising Age](http://adage.com/article/digital/iab-begins-piloting-efforts-blockchain-tech/314238/). "But could it add another so-called ad-tech tax to the equation in the process?" Advertising Age asked, noting that "[s]uch services certainly won't be free." ### **4. Salesforce buys Datorama** ![handshake-partnership-agreement](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/handshake-partnership-agreement.jpg?width=600&name=handshake-partnership-agreement.jpg) Salesforce this week agreed to acquire Datorama. [AdExchanger](https://adexchanger.com/data-exchanges/salesforce-will-acquire-data-integrator-datorama-for-a-reported-800m/) wrote of the deal: "Both Salesforce and its competitor Oracle have been on a spree acquiring data companies. Oracle started first, by snapping up BlueKai, AddThis, Datalogix, Moat and Grapeshot, and Salesforce has gone down its own path." AdExchanger added, "While Oracle has a data marketplace and seems to be focusing on data analytics, Salesforce is dead set on managing data integration." ### **5. Canada cracks down on malicious online ads with $250,000 in penalties** ### **![malware-microscope](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/malware-microscope.png?width=600&name=malware-microscope.png)** The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) [recently](https://www.canada.ca/en/radio-television-telecommunications/news/2018/07/crtc-issues-250000-in-penalties-to-combat-malicious-online-advertising.html) "took enforcement action to combat the installation of malicious software through online ads for the first time under Canada’s anti-spam law." The CRTC hit two companies with a combined $250,000 in penalties for "allegedly aiding in the installation of malicious computer programs (also known as malware) through the distribution of online advertising." *Sign up for our blog to stay updated with new stats, trends, and analysis of digital ad 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 [← Facebook, Disney among brands that appear to have been affected by mobile app laundering ad fraud discovery](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/brands-impacted-by-megacast-apparent-mobile-app-laundering-spoofing-ad-fraud-ivt) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [Pixalate releases Q2 2018 Programmatic Quality Report →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/q2-2018-programmatic-quality-report-ad-fraud-ivt) ## 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-july-20-2018#) # 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. 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