Stop Stalker Ads
Your personal data is being auctioned off to online advertisers through Adtech systems, putting profits over privacy.
How the Adtech Industry Works
Companies use Real-Time Bidding systems to gain access to your data for targeted advertising. From highest to lowest bidder, your data is harvested and combined with other datasets to build a profile about you, even if the company doesn’t win the bid to show you their advert. Everything from your geolocation, political beliefs and sexual preferences to your browsing habits and information about your devices comes under the hammer.
Data protection law grants individuals powerful data rights, including the right to retrieve, delete or revoke consent for the personal data companies hold. When RTB systems broadcast your personal data to thousands of faceless companies, your data rights become impossible to use.
ORG’s guide: how to stop stalker ads
11 steps you can take to protect your data from the adtech industry.
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How do advertisers track you online?
How does a search or a click turn into a digital stalker that follows us on the Internet?
Investigating Targeted Advertising
ORG has investigated how Meta’s targeted advertising model enables advertisers to spread disinformation, fuel division and facilitate fraud. Reads our reports into how Meta prioritises commercial interest over the safety of its users.
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Profiling by Proxy
ORG’s report into how Meta’s targeted advertising model fuels discrimination.
How Meta’s monetising the migrant crisis
ORG’s report reveals how Meta profits from the migrant crisis through ads.
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Taking on Consent or pay
In March 2025 Meta settled a four year court case with human rights campaigner Tanya O’Carroll. She had taken legal action to force the social media giant to stop collecting and processing her personal data for advertising purposes. Meta have to stop profiling Tanya. Meta has since introduced consent or pay for all users.
Meta’s Consent or Pay Mustn’t Allow Stalker Ads
ORG’s report argues that Meta’s stalker ads model is in breach of data protection law.
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Is cookie consent changing?
How UK online tracking rules could be changed to favour advertisers.
ORG’s Complaint Against LiveRamp
Open Rights Group has submitted complaints to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Commission Nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL) about LiveRamp, an online advertising and data broking company.
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ORG’s LiveRamp complaint
Challenging privacy-invasive profiling that combines online and offline identifiers.
Pervasive identity surveillance for marketing purposes
ORG’s report into personal data processing for LiveRamp’s RampID identity graph system.
Find out moreORG’s complaint against Google and IAB
In 2018 ORG’s Executive Director Jim Killock joined Dr. Johnny Ryan of Brave and Michael Veale of University College London in a joint complaint against Google and IAB. These companies provide what’s known as the framework for authorised buyers that Adtech companies operate within.
ORG’s IAB adtech challenge: the full story
The challenge to surveillance advertising and the widespread illegality in the field of online advertising.
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IAB cookie consent banners ruled illegal
ORG secured a victory over the Adtech industry.
Join the Digital Rights Movement.
The Story So Far
To consent or pay?
If you live in the UK and have a Facebook or Instagram account, you have probably received a message when you’ve logged in asking you if you “Want to subscribe or continue to use our Products for free with ads?How do advertisers track you online?
You search for boots and click on a pair you like — just once — then decide they are not what you want.How to Stop Stalker Ads
Steps to protect your data from the adtech industry Choose a privacy enhancing browser Uninstall Google Chrome.Is cookie consent going to change in the UK?
Open Rights Group convened a stakeholder roundtable on the future of adtech and cookie consent requirements in the UK following the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) consultation on a new enforcement approach toward regulating advertising.Our Adtech challenge: what we won, what we lost and what we do next
On Friday 26 November 2021, the Upper Tribunal ruled (in Killock and Veale & Ors v Information Commissioner (GI/113/2021 and ors) on our challenge against the ICO’s handling of our complaint concerning illegal data processing in the AdTech sector.Lloyd vs Google: UK needs collective redress
In 2012, Google hacked the web browers of million of Apple users to store data on their devices and track their activities online.Cookie banners, explained
Cookie banners are hitting the headlines, as policymakers and activists across political divides seek to take action on them once and for all.Adtech: let’s get rid of cookie banners
A nuisance is troubling the Internet and the digital life of Europeans: the consent or ‘cookie’ banner.Adtech vs. iOS, explained
With their last update for the iOS operating system, Apple rolled out a feature called App Transparency Tracking framework.#StopStalkerAds: adtech is watching you!
Following our open letter to the European Parliament, Open Rights Group are launching a new campaign that wants to #StopStalkerAds.Adtech: an Open Letter to the European Parliament
Today, Open Rights Group, Panoptykon and Liberties EU sent an Open Letter to the European Parliament, asking them to stand up for the ePrivacy Regulation and our online privacy.Adtech: An industry broken by design and by default
European Digital Rights (EDRi) recently published “targeted online: an industry broken by design and by default”.Adtech – an offer you can’t refuse
This spring, Apple will implement a new policy that will require App Store developers to ask for users’ permission in order to track them online.ICO enforcement: two years after the GDPR
On Tuesday, the Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham will appear in front of the DCMS Committee for a hearing, where she will be questioned about her office’s role in protecting personal data against targeted online advertising, and the use of personal data for tackling the coronavirus pandemic.Our fight against Adtech gets bigger
Two years ago, complaints against real time bidding (RTB) were lodged by Jim Killock of Open Rights Group, Michael Veale of UCL, and Johnny Ryan.The ICO must fix the Adtech industry
When we first took on the ad industry we knew it would not be simple.Belgian DPA fires a warning shot at adtech, what’s next?
In 2018 we lodged complaints in UK and Ireland against real time bidding (RTB), a technology which powers commercial tracking on the Internet.Bringing sticks to a gunfight: how the ICO fails to enforce the law
As you may be aware of, we are taking the Information Commissioner’s Office to Court over their failure to enforce the law against digital advertising and real time bidding.Digital advertising market study: the good, the bad and the ugly
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recently released their market study on online platforms and digital advertising.Something is rotten in the Information Commissioner’s Office
The COVID-19 test and trace system immediately hit the news for its dubious privacy policy, as well as the lack of a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA).ICO may have slowed down on AdTech, but we’re up and running
The ongoing coronavirus crisis may have pulled the brake on the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) enforcement of your rights, but online advertising companies are doing just fine.Is ethical Ad-Tech possible?
Last week ORG was in Brussels at the main annual privacy conference in Europe, CPDP, which stands for Computer Privacy and Data Protection.The AdTech showdown is coming but will the ICO bite?
The 2018 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was meant to be a Good Thing – a strong law that would make businesses act responsibly and give ordinary people control over our personal data.Response to IAB statement
IAB: We have taken note of media reports regarding an update to complaints made by ad-blocking browser developer Brave and Polish activist group Panoptykon Foundation to a number of European data protection authorities.Time to make Data Protection work for consumers
Data Protection.A brief chance for better UK data protection law
However, the GDPR’s enforcement within member countries has considerable flexibility.ORG’s first take on the leaked e-Privacy Regulations
Blog Leak The leaked e-Privacy Regulation (ePR) brings many improved protections to our communications data, which are now extended to communications devices and internet services, not just traditional telecom providers.More Information
18 September, 2025
Digital Privacy
Notes from ORG Adtech Roundtable on the Future of Cookie Consent Requirements in the UK
On July 30, 2025, ORG convened a roundtable to facilitate discussion between stakeholders and policymakers on a potential reform of cookie consent requirements under Regulation 6 of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (PECR)
About this Roundtable
The Information Commissioner’s Office run a consultation on a new enforcement approach toward regulating advertising.
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01 July, 2025
Digital Privacy
Profiling by Proxy: How Meta’s Data Driven Ads Fuel Discrimination
Data profiling, or behavioural profiling, is one of the most powerful tools in digital advertising, and generates billions of dollars of revenue for the sites that host ads.
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22 May, 2025
Digital Privacy
Consent Without Paying: Alternatives to Meta’s Surveillance Advertising Models
Since its first advertising product launched in 2004, Meta has relied on revenue from advertising to support its business.
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12 May, 2025
ORG RESPONSES TO DATA INTERMEDIARIES AND DATA BROKERS CONSULTATIONS
ORG responses to DSIT consultations on “data intermediaries” and on “data brokers and national security”
ORG RESPONSE TO DSIT DATA INTERMEDIARIES
Section A: Exercise of data subject rights
Q1.
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17 April, 2025
Digital Privacy
Bad Ads: Targeted Disinformation, Division and Fraud on Meta’s Platforms
This report lays out clear evidence of how Meta enables bad actors to use its targeted advertising system to manipulate elections, spread disinformation, fuel division, and facilitate fraud.
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17 April, 2024
Digital Privacy
ORG Response to the ICO “consent or pay” consultation
Open Rights Group welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Information Commissioner’s Office consultation on the “consent or pay” model, which is or could be relied upon for processing personal data on the basis of consent.
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01 June, 2021
ePrivacy Regulation and privacy automation
An Open Letter from 34 civil society organisations, asking for the introduction of automated privacy signals
Dear Member of the European Parliament,
A nuisance is troubling the internet and the digital life of Europeans: the consent or ‘cookie’ banner.
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14 April, 2021
ePrivacy Regulation – an open letter from 30 civil society organisations
Our letter to the European Parliament asking them to stand up against online tracking
Dear Members of the European Parliament,
The undersigned organisations urge the European Parliament to ensure a high level of protection of privacy and confidentiality in the upcoming ePrivacy Regulation and to address the weakness in the current Council position during trilogue negotiations.
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29 April, 2020
ORG Response to the DCMS Call for Evidence on Online Advertising
We made the case for reform of the adtech industry to the DCMS.
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29 April, 2020
ORG Response to the European Commission Review of the GDPR
We suggested changes to the mechanism which governs cross-border complaints to the European Commission, based on our experience with adtech complaints.
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14 January, 2020
Letter to ICO re Out Of Control report
Information Commissioner Wycliffe HouseWater Lane, Wilmslow
Dear Elizabeth Denham,
Re: The adtech industry is not respecting consumers’ privacy
We would like to bring to your attention a report published on January 14th by the Norwegian Consumer Council, which looks into the hidden side of the data economy.
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31 July, 2019
Response to the Competition & Markets Authority study into the digital advertising market
Open Rights Group (ORG) is a UK-based digital campaigning organisation working to protect fundamental rights to privacy and free speech online.
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14 June, 2019
Response to the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation consultation on online targeting
Response to the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation Call for Evidence Consultation on online targeting
Open Rights Group (ORG) is a UK-based digital campaigning organisation working to protect fundamental rights to privacy and free speech online.
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11 December, 2018
E-Privacy Regulation – Areas of Concern for the Open Rights Group
E-Privacy Regulation: Areas of Concern for Open Rights Group
These notes outline our main concerns with the current discussions in Brussels around the proposed E-Privacy Regulation, and have been presented ot the DCMS team responsible for the UK side of the negotiations.
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11 December, 2017
Collective Redress: Government Position – Open Rights Group Response
Government’s position is in bold.
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Press Releases
26 September, 2025
Meta fails to respect data rights with consent or pay scheme
Meta has announced that it will offer customers in the UK a new subscription service which will enable them to access the company’s services without receiving adverts.
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01 July, 2025
Meta Requires More Transparency About Anti-Gambling Ads Than Gambling Ads
A new report by digital rights campaigners Open Rights Group (ORG) has highlighted that Meta requires more transparency about adverts that highlight the harms of gambling than about adverts that promote gambling.
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22 May, 2025
Meta’s Consent or Pay Must Not Allow Stalker Ads, Report Argues
No excuses for not changing Meta business model
A new report by digital campaigners, Open Rights Group urges Meta to amend its business model to comply with data protection law.
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17 April, 2025
New report: How Meta is monetising the migrant crisis
How Meta monetises the migrant crisis
Social media giant Meta is profiting from the global migrant crisis – enabling both criminals and the UK Home Office to target vulnerable migrants with adverts.
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28 February, 2024
ORG submits complaints about intrusive LiveRamp adtech system
Today, Open Rights Group has submitted complaints to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Commission Nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL) about LiveRamp, an online advertising and data broking company.
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25 November, 2021
Privacy watchdog condemns Regulator’s lack of action
Responding to the ICO’s report on Adtech, detailing continued unlawfulness with no deadline for change, the Executive Director of the Open Rights Group, Jim Killock, said:
“The ICO has investigated, reported twice and explained repeatedly that the Google and the IAB-led adtech industry are in massive breach of the law.
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07 September, 2021
Open Rights Group calls on the ICO to do its job and enforce the law
EMBARGO: Immediate
Responding to ICO Commissioner Elizabeth Denham’s call on G7 countries to tackle cookie pop-ups challenge, Jim Killock, Executive Director of Open Rights Group, said:
“The simple fact is that most cookie banners are unlawful, and the data collection behind them is, as her own report states, also unlawful.
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20 July, 2021
Complaint against the AdTech industry body, the IAB, and Google in the Upper Tribunal
Jim Killock and Michael Veale are today at the Upper Tribunal asking for their Complaint against the AdTech industry body, the IAB, and Google to be reopened, after the ICO closed it without taking action against it.
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22 January, 2021
ICO INVESTIGATES ADTECH WITHOUT ORG COMPLAINT
Responding to ICO’s announcement today that the regulator is resuming invetigation of massive data breaches taking place in the online ad industry through “Real-Time Bidding”, ORG explain that this shows the ICO is wrong to have closed complaints by Jim Killock and Michael Veale against Adtech earlier this year.
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05 November, 2020
Privacy organisation Open Rights Group taking the Privacy regulator ICO to court in a landmark case.
In an unprecedented move, the Privacy Campaigners at the Open Rights Group (ORG) have today announced that they are taking the UK’s privacy regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to court over the regulator’s failure to stop unlawful practices by the Digital Advertising Technology (AdTech) industry.
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17 January, 2020
Data regulator ICO fails to enforce the law
The complainants are considering taking legal action against the regulator.
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14 January, 2020
NEWS RELEASE Mobile Adtech “out of control”
A report released today shows that Adtech in mobile apps is sharing user data far and wide, through adtech systems that include sensitive information such as sexuality, drug use, political views.
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20 June, 2019
Complainants call on ICO to take action against adtech sector
The ICO has agreed in substance with the complainants’ points about the insecurity of adtech data sharing.
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14 September, 2017
Data Protection Bill must give privacy groups right to lodge complaints
ORG welcomes the Bill, which will improve our ability to control how data is collected and used.
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10 May, 2017
Rights groups demand more transparency over Facebook’s ‘insights’ into young users
Facebook should immediately release all documents describing how it collected and analyzed psychological information it recently collected about its youngest users, some as young as 14, and college students, Public Citizen and a coalition of 25 groups said in a letter to the corporation today.
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