The Monopoly Report

Episode 74: The Attribution Cartel: Why “Privacy-Safe” is NOT what it’s made up to be

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0000

Don Marti joins Alan Chapell to unpack the hidden risks behind the push for industry standards for “privacy-safe” ad attribution, the myth of privacy-preserving tech, and how big platforms may be reshaping the future of digital advertising.

The Chapell Regulatory Insider is at https://chapellreport.substack.com/

Don Marti may be found at: https://aloodo.com/

See Don Marti’s recent AdExchanger piece at https://www.adexchanger.com/data-driven-thinking/what-happens-when-the-attribution-cartel-meets-advertisings-halo-effect/

Additional discussion re: the problems with PETs for advertising

https://privacy-daily.com/news/2025/06/10/PrivacyEnhancing-Technologies-Are-Not-a-Silver-Bullet-PEPR-Told-2506100010

https://rjionline.org/news/the-traffic-and-revenue-crisis-for-news-is-a-symptom-of-big-techs-economy-wide-trust-collapse/

https://rjionline.org/news/big-tech-is-squeezing-advertising-jobs-and-companies/

https://rjionline.org/news/big-techs-economic-takeover-can-be-beat/

https://rjionline.org/news/big-tech-runs-counter-to-journalism-values-so-why-is-the-news-industry-helping-tech-take-over/

Takeaways

Privacy-focused users are often the most valuable customers, challenging traditional ad tech assumptions about measurability.
Attribution is fundamentally about linking ad exposure to outcomes, but current models often prioritize simplicity over accuracy.
“Privacy-preserving” systems frequently focus on mathematical guarantees that don’t align with real-world privacy harms like discrimination or deception.
Proposed attribution standards may unintentionally increase surveillance incentives by enabling fraud and data laundering.
Fraud in attribution systems can reward actors who intercept users right before purchase, distorting true performance signals.
Big tech companies may benefit from attribution systems that reinforce their own ad recommendations, reducing competition.
The “halo effect” shows ads perform better in trusted, premium environments, but current systems undervalue this dynamic.
A shift toward cheap, commoditized ad placements weakens both brand equity and publisher sustainability.
The so-called “attribution cartel” is defined by systems that avoid user consent and bypass opt-out mechanisms.
Effective privacy regulation should focus on real-world harms rather than technical implementation details.

Chapters

00:00 Intro & What Don Marti Has Been Working On

01:18 The “Marti Paradox”

02:52 What Attribution Really Means

03:35 The Broken State of Attribution Today

07:32 Complexity, Perception & Industry Behavior

08:21 The Problem with “Privacy-Preserving” Tech

11:54 Big Tech Incentives & Centralization

16:17 The Halo Effect & Ad Effectiveness

17:01 Commodification vs Sustainable Advertising

21:28 Attribution Fraud Explained

23:49 Data Laundering Through Attribution Systems

26:09 The “Attribution Cartel” Defined

29:17 W3C, Standards & Industry Power Dynamics

32:29 Alternative Approaches (AdMap)

37:03 What Good Privacy Regulation Looks Like

40:56 The Future of Attribution

43:20 What Industry Stakeholders Can Do

45:00 Rethinking Privacy Harms

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 73: Pubmatic isn’t messing around with Agentic Ads

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Andrew Woods, GC of SSP Pubmatic, joins Alan Chapell to discuss Pubmatic’s approach to agentic ads — and how AI has irrevocably changed the legal profession. Pubmatic’s recent agentic test campaign results were a hit at Marketecture Live, and Andrew goes deep into what he believes will need to happen in order for agentic to live up to its promise.

The Chapell Regulatory Insider is available at https://chapellreport.substack.com/.

Takeaways

Agentic AI does not create new liability; it accelerates existing frameworks
Accountability sits with whoever deploys the agent
Logging and decision provenance will be critical for compliance
Privacy compliance is less about difficulty, more about fragmentation
Hope is not a plan when it comes to regulatory scrutiny
Data minimization is becoming a real engineering constraint
AI will eliminate routine legal work but elevate strategic problem-solving
Agentic systems can become powerful compliance tools if built correctly

Chapters

00:10 Introduction to the episode and Andrew Woods

02:01 Andrew’s background and journey into ad tech

04:20 Lessons from Twitter on privacy and user safety

06:29 What a General Counsel does in modern ad tech

08:43 Biggest lesson from global privacy enforcement

11:04 Building trust between legal and business teams

13:21 Who is liable in agentic AI advertising

16:29 Why logging and data provenance matter

18:27 The role of compliance signals and guardrails

20:57 Why agentic compliance frameworks are not built yet

22:57 Regulation versus fragmentation challenges

24:55 How PubMatic approaches privacy by design

27:10 Data minimization in practice

28:16 Non-negotiables for agentic compliance frameworks

31:57 Where industry discussions are happening

33:50 The future of agentic AI in advertising

36:42 How PubMatic’s legal team uses AI today

40:26 Why traditional legal work is disappearing

45:09 Final thoughts and closing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alan Chapell’s Fireside chat with FTC Commissioner Meador

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0000

The Monopoly Report’s Alan Chapell sits down with FTC Commissioner Mark Meador at Marketecture Live to discuss industry privacy self-regulation, the future of the cookie opt-outs, the use of privacy as an anticompetitive pretext, and some ideas for better protecting kids online.

Takeaways

Self-regulation still matters, but must be effective and avoid collusion risks.
Privacy and competition often exist in tension and require balance.
Cookie-based systems are imperfect and depend on better alternatives emerging.
Risks around using privacy as a pretext to lock up the browser market or access to critical data.
Transparency is key for both consumer protection and fair competition.
Age verification is advancing rapidly with privacy-conscious innovation.
“Free” platforms still involve economic transactions and consumer trade-offs.
Antitrust enforcement is shifting toward tackling dominant players’ conduct.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and role of self-regulation in advertising

00:41 Why self-regulation still matters and how it should work

02:27 What makes self-reg effective in the eyes of the FTC

04:12 The limitations of cookie-based privacy tools

06:03 Global privacy controls and market-driven solutions

08:38 Balancing privacy and competition in digital markets

10:33 Protecting children online and age verification innovation

14:29 Solving privacy concerns in age verification systems

15:38 Why universal identity checks are not the goal

18:06 Measuring harm in “free” digital platforms

20:25 Current state of antitrust enforcement

23:07 Addressing monopolies after consolidation has occurred

25:28 Rethinking antitrust and the risks of concentrated power

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 72: Can Mozilla succeed by doing right by its User base?

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Host Alan Chapell is joined by Ajit Varma and Kush Amlani from Mozilla, where they talk about the intersection of privacy and competition, the weaponization of privacy, and how Mozilla is placing a bet that staying true to their core privacy principles will enable Firefox to succeed over the long term.

The Chapell Regulatory Insider may be found at - https://chapellreport.substack.com/

Kush Amlani is Director, Global Competition & Regulation at Mozilla, leading the work to create a level playing field in digital markets internationally. Prior to joining Mozilla, Kush was a Senior Competition & Regulatory Lawyer at the BBC for five years, based in London. He joined the BBC from SJ Berwin LLP (later Kings & Wood Mallesons), where he worked on antitrust cases across the UK and EU, spanning sectors such as energy, media, telecoms, and pharmaceuticals.

In his role as Head of Firefox, Ajit Varma leads the development of the Firefox strategy, ensuring it’s a delightful experience for current users, as well as those of the future. Ajit has years of product management experience from Square, Google, and, immediately prior to joining Mozilla, Meta, where he was responsible for monetization of WhatsApp and overseeing Meta’s business messaging platform. Earlier in his career, he was a co-founder and CEO of Adku, a venture-funded machine learning platform that was acquired by Groupon. Ajit has a BS from the University of Texas at Austin. He is based in the Bay Area.

Takeaways

Product and policy are now deeply intertwined in modern tech decisions
Some browsers are increasingly evolving into AI-powered agents Mozilla prioritizes user choice, transparency, and choice-driven AI experiences
Privacy and competition should work together, not against each other
Open source and browser diversity are critical hedges against Big Tech dominance
Mozilla intentionally sacrifices revenue to stay aligned with its core privacy and trust principles
The future of AI depends on interoperability and low barriers to entry

Chapters

00:00 Intro to Mozilla’s role in privacy and competition

00:41 Why product and policy are now inseparable

03:03 Kush’s path into law and regulation

04:49 How browsers evolved into user agents

08:26 New AI browsers and distribution strategies

09:40 Mozilla’s approach to monetization without selling data

12:14 Why privacy matters more than ever

15:15 Privacy vs competition in regulation

24:08 Mozilla’s AI strategy and avoiding dependency

27:42 What trustworthy AI actually means

31:36 Privacy-enhancing technologies and their limits

34:11 The trade-offs of privacy-first business models

40:23 Why competition and browser diversity matter

41:32 The importance of Mozilla’s Gecko engine

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 71. The Revisionist History of Privacy Self-Reg in the Ads Space

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Host Alan Chapell is joined by Mark Naples of WIT Strategy, where they discuss the history of self-reg in the ads space, the NAI's origins in 2000, the DAA's launch a decade later, and the rise of the cookie opt-out mechanism. They also get into AI and whether that will change the path of innovation in adtech.

Find Mark Naples here https://www.witstrategy.com/mark-naples.

The Chapell Regulatory Insider may be found here - https://chapellreport.substack.com/

Takeaways

The DAA’s core goal was to delay, if not prevent, government regulation—and it worked
Transparency was helpful, but didn’t meaningfully protect users
Over the years, the focus was on regulating smaller players while Big Tech scaled unchecked
Cookie-based opt-outs were flawed but persisted because they “worked” (kind of, sort of)
AI is degrading critical thinking and originality in communications
Innovation in ad tech has slowed significantly - will the rush to agentic speed it back up?
Engagement matters more than clicks, but most marketers still don’t get it

Chapters

00:00 Intro & Welcome to the Monopoly Report

02:20 Setting the Stage: Privacy, Regulation & Ad Tech

03:30 The NAI Origins & Early Industry Tensions

08:30 DoubleClick vs. Open AdStream Models

12:00 Privacy vs. Transparency: What Actually Mattered

16:30 The Birth of the DAA & Self-Regulation

22:00 Was the DAA Really a Success?

27:00 Big Tech’s Rise & Missed Warning Signs

32:00 Cookie Opt-Outs & Technical Reality

36:30 Power, Regulation & the Role of Government

41:00 AI’s Impact on PR & Media Quality

45:00 The Decline of Innovation in Ad Tech

49:00 What the Industry Should Be Talking About: Engagement

52:00 Where to Find Mark & Closing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 70: Ad Tech at a Turning Point with Allison Schiff of AdExchanger

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Allison Schiff, Managing Editor at AdExchanger and host Alan Chapell, break down the growing tension between business incentives and ethical responsibility in the ad tech industry. The background context is the recent RFI from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Who within the larger ad space is willing to admit - WE are part of the problem.

Check out the Chapell Regulatory Insider at https://chapellreport.substack.com/.

Takeaway

In the ad space, Incentives sometimes drive behavior more than ethics.
Regulation has adjusted core practices, but hasn’t changed the mindset.
Data use has a real human impact.
Data flows continue to lack transparency.
Reform will require multiple forces.

Chapter

00:00 Introduction & Guest Background

04:09 ICE RFI & Industry Silence

08:06 Ethics & Industry Responsibility

13:34 Public Positions & Industry Response

18:13 Surveillance Advertising & Data Use

23:42 Regulation & State Laws

29:09 Privacy Challenges & Vulnerable Populations

36:48 Data Practices & Transparency

43:18 Drivers of Privacy Reform

48:06 Industry & Regulatory Challenges Ahead

52:14 Closing Thoughts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 69: Anthony Katsur, CEO at IAB Tech Lab: Navigating AI, Privacy, and Adtech’s Agentic Future

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Tony Katsur, CEO of IAB Tech Lab, joins Alan Chapell to unpack the rise of agentic AI and its impact on privacy and data governance. They explore why current approaches fall short and how the industry risks repeating past mistakes. The discussion breaks down vector embeddings and how they enable data matching without exposing raw user information. They also examine ongoing challenges around compliance, consent, and data deletion in AI-driven systems. Finally, the episode covers AI content marketplaces and how frameworks like COMP aim to bring structure, transparency, and fair compensation to publishers.

The Chapell Regulatory Insider may be found here: https://chapellreport.substack.com/

Takeaways

Agentic AI brings powerful automation but risks repeating past privacy failures without strong governance frameworks in place.
Existing privacy standards like TCF and GPP can be embedded into agentic systems but need further evolution and enforcement.
Vector embeddings enable privacy-conscious data matching by comparing similarity rather than sharing raw data.
Data deletion and compliance remain unresolved challenges when user data is embedded into AI models or vectors.
Audit, attestation, and accountability mechanisms are critical to prevent misuse and misrepresentation in agentic ecosystems.
AI content marketplaces require structured licensing frameworks like COMP to support fair compensation and transparency.
Tokenization of content could improve tracking, attribution, and source-of-truth verification for publishers and brands.
The industry is still early in agentic development and must slow down to build privacy-first foundations.

Chapters

00:00 Intro and discussion on agentic AI hype vs reality

01:12 Why privacy is missing from the agentic AI conversation

03:34 Challenges with DSARs and scaling privacy compliance

05:08 Existing privacy frameworks and how they apply to agentic systems

07:44 The role of privacy taxonomy and data classification

12:38 Explaining vector embeddings and privacy-safe data matching

18:30 Compliance challenges with embeddings and data transparency

24:26 Agent registry and identity verification in agentic systems

30:54 AI content marketplaces and the COMP framework

35:24 COMP vs RSL and licensing models

38:15 Content tracking, tokenization, and transparency challenges

42:48 The future of AI content marketplaces

44:38 Why industry participation in Tech Lab is critical

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 68: How to Build a Privacy Program with Charm & Gravitas

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Sheila Colclasure joins host Alan Chapell to discuss some key lessons learned in a career that included significant privacy, AI and data governance roles at Acxiom and IPG. Sheila shares what inspired her to coin the term “March Fairness” as well as a few secrets on how to influence senior decision-makers on privacy and data governance issues.

You can find the Chapell Regulatory Insider at https://chapellreport.substack.com/

Takeaways

Sheila's journey into privacy began in 1997 at Axiom.
Building a culture of privacy is essential for success.
Documentation is crucial for privacy and AI governance.
Words matter in privacy and AI governance discussions..
Data brokers play a vital role in the information services industry.
Regulatory scrutiny on data brokers has evolved over the years.
March Fairness highlights the importance of fairness in data usage.
AI presents new challenges and opportunities for privacy.
Understanding corporate strategy is key for privacy professionals.
Sensitive data should generally be avoided in advertising use cases.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Sheila Colclasure and the evolution of privacy governance.

02:00 Sheila’s privacy origin story and early work building Acxiom’s governance program.

04:20 Lessons from auditing data sources and creating ethical data sourcing standards.

09:20 Why documentation and governance discipline matter in privacy programs.

11:00 Building a digital responsibility framework across dozens of agencies at IPG.

17:30 The evolving debate around data brokers and regulatory scrutiny.

26:00 The concept of “March Fairness” and applying fairness to data governance.

30:30 AI, governance challenges, and the coming impact of quantum computing.

41:30 Career advice for privacy professionals

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 67: Everything’s an ad network & everyone’s a data broker

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0000

Ben Isaacson, Founder of InHouse Privacy and longtime privacy attorney, joins the podcast to break down how California’s CPPA is reshaping the data broker landscape. From the DELETE Act and the drop mechanism to the broad definition of “sale” and “direct relationship,” Ben explains why ad tech, retail media, clean rooms, and even auto and smart TV companies may be in scope. He also shares what enforcement could look like in 2026, why smaller brokers may not survive, and the biggest misconception that continues to put companies at risk.

Takeaways

Ben Isaacson's journey into the privacy space began in 1995.
The CCPA and CPRA have significantly influenced privacy regulations in California.
Data brokers are now defined more broadly under California law.
Ad tech companies must navigate complex compliance issues regarding data sharing.
Retail media networks face challenges in adhering to data broker rules.
Authorized agents may struggle with compliance as regulations evolve.
The DELETE Act could lead to increased enforcement actions against data brokers.
Misconceptions about data selling persist among companies.
The future of data broker regulations may see more states adopting similar laws.
Privacy by design is essential for companies to build trust with consumers.

Chapters

00:00 Ben Isaacson’s privacy origin story and early internet lobbying

09:06 How CPPA enforcement is reshaping CCPA and CPRA

12:53 What California’s data broker definition really means

14:37 Why ad tech, DSPs, DMPs, and clean rooms may be in scope

17:42 Retail media networks and off platform monetization risk

26:26 The DELETE Act drop mechanism and 2026 enforcement timeline

29:02 Authorized agents and the rise of deletion services

38:06 The future of the data broker industry

41:15 The biggest misconception companies still believe about selling data

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 66: AI Governance is NOT optional

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0000

AI ethicist and governance pro Shoshana Rosenberg joins Alan Chapell to discuss how to build a framework for addressing the legal and regulatory risks involving AI. Given all the new AI and profiling rules flowing down into the ads space in 2026, Shoshana is exactly the person the ads space should be listening to right now.

Pre-order Shoshana’s book “Practical AI Governance” here -

www.practicalaigovernance.com Check out the Chapell Regulatory Insider here - https://chapellreport.substack.com/

Takeaways

AI governance is less about compliance checklists and more about strategic oversight that prevents unseen liability.
Digital agency means giving individuals context and control over how systems influence them.
Post hoc explainability is insufficient because inference-driven systems are fundamentally probabilistic.
Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) can undermine marketplace trust when platforms utilizing PETs aren’t transparent about how they work and don’t allow advertisers to audit them.
Government procurement standards may drive AI accountability faster than direct regulation.
Building on foundational AI models requires documenting what you add and controlling what you can evidence.
The PRISM framework pushes teams beyond compliance toward structured ethical practice. Too many in the ad space are ignoring data and AI governance to their detriment.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and defining AI governance

01:09 Why AI governance is about strategy, not compliance

02:41 Shoshana’s path from engineer and Navy JAG to AI governance

05:22 Digital agency as a human right

09:13 What explainability should look like in advertising

11:23 The complexity of the ad tech ecosystem

13:25 Gaps in global AI regulation

17:06 Procurement and government contracting as enforcement levers

20:49 The tension between PETs and transparency

28:02 Agentic AI and worsening accountability gaps

29:30 Explainability by design by 2029

31:42 Practical guidance for little tech building with AI

35:11 The PRISM framework explained

38:43 Upcoming book and where to find Shoshana

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 65: The Problem with Age Verification

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0000

Alan Chapell is joined by Professor Jess Miers, visiting assistant professor of the University of Akron School of Law. Jess and Alan discuss some of the inherent challenges around protecting kids on the internet, and how those challenges are increasingly leading policymakers to age verification as the solution. While Alan is curious to see how this approach plays out in Australia, both Jess and Alan are skeptical that age verification will be good for kids or privacy in general.

Professor Miers’ Bio: https://www.uakron.edu/law/faculty/directory/profile.dot?u=jmiers

Chapell Regulatory Insider: https://chapellreport.substack.com/

Takeaways

Jess Miers’ career transitioned from policy work to academia, finding a place to express her views freely.
Parents face significant challenges in monitoring their children's online activities.
The impact of social media on youth mental health is complex and multifaceted.
More and more places worldwide are turning to age verification.
The U.S. legal landscape regarding age verification is evolving and is currently impeded due to First Amendment concerns.
Advertisers must navigate a nebulous landscape regarding content directed at minors.
Data privacy and security concerns are heightened with age verification requirements.
Education of both parents and children is essential in addressing online safety.
While these issues haven’t squarely hit the ad space just yet, Alan thinks that the post-COPPA 1.0 world will hit the ad space hard.

Chapters:

00:01 Welcome + where Jess is calling from

00:36 Policy to academia + why it fits

02:07 Viral CA testimony moment

04:52 What problem age verification is trying to solve

07:03 Youth harm evidence and why causality is nuanced

10:27 Australia: under-16 ban and early consequences

13:54 Europe/UK: “age assurance,” feature limits, and gating

16:37 US: First Amendment and shifting legal strategies

22:55 Why age verification is risky: anonymity + data honeypots

44:28 Where to find Jess + wrap; transcript ends

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 64: Tom Kemp of CalPrivacy discusses the DROP & Public Policy Goals

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0000

Alan Chapell is joined by Tom Kemp, the Executive Director of California's privacy regulator CalPrivacy, to discuss the launch of the DROP data deletion mechanism and California’s rules regarding the Global Privacy Control. While complimentary of California's efforts, Alan attempts to uplevel the discussion to talk more broadly about the larger public policy goals driving California's privacy regime.

Tom Kemp's Bio: https://cppa.ca.gov/about_us/

Tom Kemp's Article: https://www.techpolicy.press/lets-make-privacy-easy/

Chapell Regulatory Insider: https://chapellreport.substack.com/

Takeaways

CalPrivacy is the first independent agency focused on consumer privacy.
The DROP system allows Californians to manage their privacy rights easily.
Over 200,000 Californians signed up for the DROP system within a month of launch.
Consumers are increasingly interested in privacy protections.
The agency is addressing privacy harms, especially for vulnerable communities.
Collaboration with other states is on the table a priority for CalPrivacy - particularly re: the DROP.
Transparency in data practices is essential for consumer trust.
The agency aims to balance innovation with privacy regulations.
Authorized agents play a crucial role in helping consumers exercise their rights.
Future regulations will focus on reducing friction for consumers.
Alan shares his thoughts on how CalPrivacy can better align its stated policy goals with outcomes

Chapters

00:01 Intro and where Tom is calling from

01:04 What CalPrivacy is and Tom’s role

03:33 Why he took the job and his background

06:18 What’s still on the roadmap from “Let’s Make Privacy Easy”

08:18 What DROP is and how it works

11:05 Early adoption: 200,000+ signups

14:26 Privacy paradox and why “making it easy” matters

17:39 Other states showing interest in a DELETE Act model

20:41 Whether DROP could expand beyond California

23:04 Privacy harms and enforcement focus areas

31:14 Opt out preference signals (GPC/OOPS) and how they fit

37:11 Browser conflicts of interest and potential OOPS regs

41:23 Authorized agents and possible additional regulation

45:57 Defining “data broker” and who must register

54:57 Where to find CalPrivacy resources and closing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 63: Why are publishers and adtechs privately suing Google on antitrust grounds?

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0000

This week, Brendan Benedict joins Alan Chapell to talk about some of the recent civil antitrust complaints filed against Google by publishers including Penske, The Atlantic, McClatchy, Conde Nast, and Vox Media. With Judge Brinkema's remedies decision pending and a slew of other jurisdictions (e.g., EU, Canada) attempting to remedy Google's adtech practices, why are so many publishers and adtech companies jumping into the pool?

Brendan Benedict may be found at: https://www.benedictlawgroup.com/brendan-benedict

The Chapell Regulatory Insider is available at: https://chapellreport.substack.com/

Takeaways

The DOJ ruling gives private plaintiffs a head start on liability.
These cases will mostly come down to damages calculations.
Google avoided a jury, but the detailed opinion may make appeals harder.
Remedies are likely behavioral, not divestiture.
Statute of limitations could decide how far back damages go.

Chapters

00:00 Intro & Guest Welcome

02:20 DOJ Remedies Decision Still Pending

06:20 Overview of Private Civil Lawsuits Against Google

07:05 Publisher Allegations

08:30 Damages Scale Discussion

10:05 DOJ Heavy Lifting for Private Plaintiffs

13:00 Case Consolidation & MDL Structure

15:25 Google Appeal Strategy

19:05 Duke Energy & “Monopoly Broth” Issue

21:45 Jury Trial Avoidance and Implications

23:45 Texas AG Case Expansion

26:00 Europe and Divestiture Pressure

29:05 Calculating Lost Revenue Damages

31:10 Statute of Limitations Debate

33:05 Settlement Likelihood & Bellwether Trials

39:20 FTC Meta Appeal Sidebar

48:10 Final Takeaways Summary

52:15 Closing & Upcoming Guest Preview

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 62: The Future of Self-regulation in Digital Ad Privacy

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0000

David LeDuc from the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) sits down with host Alan Chapell to discuss the NAI's reinvention of its self-regulatory efforts in light of the influx of U.S. state privacy laws. They discuss what a good privacy law looks like, the challenges around finding the right balance, California's new Deletion tool, and the likelihood of a U.S. federal privacy law in the near term.

More on David LeDuc and the NAI at https://thenai.org/about-the-nai-2/staff/

More on the Chapell Regulatory Insider at https://chapellreport.substack.com/

Takeaways

The NAI has shifted from crafting self-regulatory rules to helping companies comply with complex state and federal privacy laws as enforcement accelerates.
The California Delete Request and Opt-Out Platform (DROP) is likely the most impactful regulatory development for the ad space heading into 2026.
Lumping third-party ad tech companies together with traditional data brokers may create regulatory confusion.
Kids’ privacy is rapidly expanding beyond COPPA, creating major challenges for ad tech companies aound compliance given that most have no idea how to ascertain the age of a User.
Enforcement sophistication and coordination among state attorneys general are increasing, changing the risk profile for companies that try to “keep their heads down” and do the minimum.
Attempts to regulate AI indirectly through privacy and consumer protection laws are likely to continue as federal leadership stalls.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and episode overview

02:23 Who is David LeDuc and what is the NAI today

06:00 Are lobbyists really the problem

09:40 Kids’ data, age verification, and policy tensions

13:06 Educating regulators vs legislators

18:04 Ad tech vs data brokers

21:10 What does a “perfect” privacy law look like

30:27 California’s Delete Request and Opt-Out Platform

35:40 Global Privacy Control and browser obligations

39:25 AI regulation through privacy and consumer protection laws

44:20 Predictions for 2026

50:21 Where to find David and the NAI

52:10 – Final wrap-up

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 61: State Privacy Law from the POV of Civil Society w/Travis Hall of the CDT

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0000

Alan Chapell is joined by Dr. Travis Hall - Director for State Engagement at the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), a nonpartisan organization focused on civil rights and liberties in the digital age. They talk about the ads space through a lens balancing consumer expectations with business interests and debate the merits of the private right of action.

Travis Hall’s bio is available at https://cdt.org/staff/travis-hall/

Chapell Regulatory Insider is available at https://chapellreport.substack.com/

Takeaways:

CDT focuses on a broad range of digital rights, not just privacy.
Data minimization is essential for effective privacy laws.
Consumer expectations often differ from actual online behavior.
State privacy laws need strong enforcement mechanisms.
The private right of action can drive regulatory change.
Targeted advertising is an area of continued focus.
Understanding technology is crucial for effective policymaking.
Advocacy must balance user rights with industry needs.
Collaboration between stakeholders is vital for progress.
Historical context shapes current privacy advocacy efforts.

Chapter:

00:00 Introduction and Personal Insights

01:18 Understanding the Center for Democracy and Technology

04:33 The Role of CDT in State Privacy Legislation

10:20 Consumer Expectations and Privacy Law

16:11 Elements of Effective State Privacy Laws

21:26 Challenges in Data Minimization Enforcement

24:27 The Impact of GDPR on Ad Tech

26:22 Enforcement Challenges in Digital Media

30:22 The Role of Private Right of Action

38:52 Improving Targeted Advertising Practices

46:02 Acknowledging the Tension in Data Practices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 60: Did the CJEU just break the Internet?

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Professor Daphne Keller joins host Alan Chapell to discuss the implications of the EU Court of Justice decision in Russmedia - demonstrating that "breaking the Internet" is no longer solely the domain of pop stars like Taylor Swift. An expert in platform regulation and intermediary liability, Professor Keller explains how the CJEU's Russmedia decision poses significant challenges for companies operating in the digital media space in Europe.

Daphne Keller's bio may be found at https://law.stanford.edu/daphne-keller/.

The Chapell regulatory outlook report may be found at https://chapellreport.substack.com/.

Takeaways

The Russmedia case shifts the EU rules on intermediary liability significantly.
Intermediary liability laws aim to balance online safety, free speech, and innovation.
The court's decision highlights a long-standing tension as between GDPR and the e-commerce directive.
Platforms may now be considered joint controllers of user data under GDPR.
Identifying harmful content at scale is a major challenge for platforms.
The Russmedia case

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and show premise

02:05 Daphne Keller and why Russmedia matters

04:00 Why intermediary liability shields exist

06:20 Distinction between Section 230 in the U.S. (absolute liability shield) and the EU notice and takedown regime under the e-commerce directive.

08:45 GDPRand right to be forgotten as background context.

11:00 Russmedia facts and Romanian state court path

13:45 Advocate General view processor vs controller

16:00 CJEU view as joint controllership is the lynchpin of the case.

23:30 Proactive checks and the general monitoring contradiction

34:40 What platforms can do now and the practical tradeoffs

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 59: FTC Commissioner Mark Meador on Digital Media Regulatory

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Host Alan Chapell welcomes Commissioner Mark Meador of the Federal Trade Commission to talk about the future of conservative antitrust, the importance of protecting kids and the impact of the regulatory environment on the digital media marketplace.

Commissioner Meador's bio can be found at https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/commissioners-staff/mark-r-meador.

The Chapell Report can be found at https://chapellreport.substack.com/

Takeaways

Privacy and online safety for children are top priorities for the FTC.
The FTC is focused on tangible harms rather than ethereal issues.
Antitrust enforcement has seen a bipartisan consensus on the need for more action.
The FTC uses 6B studies to understand new markets and inform future regulations.
Learning from past FTC experiences is crucial for effective enforcement.
AI and deceptive claims are monitored under existing laws.
Consumer choice is essential in a competitive marketplace.
The FTC is committed to enforcing laws that protect children online.
Regulatory actions should avoid creating unintended consequences.

Chapters

00:00 FTC Priorities for 2026

03:53 Antitrust Focus and Challenges

07:50 Protecting Children Online

12:08 The Role of 6B Studies

15:54 Learning from Past FTC Experiences

19:41 Addressing AI and Deceptive Claims

23:43 Consumer Choice and Market Dynamics

27:43 Key Takeaways for Digital Media Stakeholders

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 58: The EU Digital Omnibus, Part 2: With Peter Craddock

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Peter Craddock joins Alan Chapell to discuss the EU Digital Omnibus proposal - and debate the value of simplification of the digital privacy rules in Europe. Peter views these changes as pragmatic, while Alan is concerned that we’re trading in one set of ambiguities to another.

More on Peter Craddock https://www.khlaw.com/people/peter-craddock.

More on Alan's Regulatory Outlook Substack https://chapellreport.substack.com/welcome

Takeaways

Peter believes the Digital Omnibus changes are intended to add a layer of pragmatism to EU data protection law.
The GDPR was designed to enshrine privacy as a fundamental right, but that doesn’t mean privacy should prevail over everything else.
You also take into account other fundamental rights: fundamental right of information and freedom of expression.

Chapters

00:00 Peter returns and sets the stage for what the EU Digital Omnibus is and why it exists.

04:20 How the proposal and Court of Justice rulings reshape the meaning of personal data for ad tech.

10:00 What pseudonymous companies can argue today under SRB and related cases.

15:40 Why ePrivacy consent rules still bite even if GDPR does not apply.

20:40 Browser-based consent controls and why industry expects pushback.

26:10 How regulators may respond, and why pragmatism is becoming more visible.

35:40 Legitimate interest for AI training versus consent for monetization.

41:00 Whether the changes help smaller players and what uncertainty remains.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 57: The EU Digital Omnibus with Dr. Gabriela Zanfir-Fortuna

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0000

The Digital Omnibus proposal seeks to upend the EU data protection rules. In part 1 of our coverage, Alan Chapell chats with Dr Gabriela Zanfir-Fortuna of the Future of Privacy Forum about what's driving the Digital Omnibus, and whether it is likely to have a positive impact. More on Gabriela at https://fpf.org/person/dr-gabriela-zanfir-fortuna/. More on Alan's Substack at https://chapellreport.substack.com/.

Takeaways

The Digital Omnibus aims to simplify, reduce compliance burden and boost EU competitiveness, but may introduce new ambiguities and complexities.
Narrowing the definition of personal data could let some pseudonymous ad tech processing fall outside GDPR coverage.
A browser level do not track style signal is proposed, yet timelines and technical feasibility remain uncertain given past failures and current standards backlogs.
AI model training via legitimate interest raises difficult questions about privacy choices.
Some EU regulators are likely to resist these shifts, meaning enforcement may stay privacy forward - creating a lack of certainty for those seeking to comply with these new rules.

Chapters

00:00 Alan introduces the show, the guest, and why the Digital Omnibus matters for GDPR and the AI Act.

03:40 Gabriela shares her privacy origin story and why privacy harms can be systemic, not just individual.

11:40 The pair unpack the Commission’s stated goals of simplification and competitiveness, and why Gabriela doubts the path.

17:00 They examine the proposed narrowed definition of personal data and the risk of fresh compliance confusion.

20:50 Discussion of a new consent revocation signal and the long road to workable standards.

26:40 A media services carve out is questioned, especially its impact on consent fatigue and digital ads.

32:00 Gabriela outlines the biggest AI related proposals, especially legitimate interest for training and use.

44:40 They predict regulator pushback and what that means for enforcement over the next decade.

50:30 Closing reflections on why the Omnibus may fail its simplification promise and what comes next.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 56: The People of Vermont want privacy too!

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Alan chats with Vermont State Representative Monique Priestley about her multi-year attempt to get a privacy law passed in the State of Vermont. They discuss Vermont's approach, what Monique has learned from the successes and failures of other state efforts, and what a "good" privacy law looks like.

Rep Priestley's bio may be found at: https://priestleyvt.com/about/

The discussion re: Private Rights of Action in Privacy Laws with Dr. Lauren Scholz is available at: https://www.youtube.com/live/RVb8xXWkYPQ?si=sb89gvUiT_WzKYsp&t=2448.

My reaction to Dr. Scholz's testimony is available on my Substack at: https://chapell.substack.com/p/more-on-the-private-right-of-action Takeaways

Lobbying pressure shapes privacy bills long before the public ever sees them.
Consumer rights only work if people can actually enforce them.
Data minimization is essential but difficult to regulate.
Political campaigns are major contributors to data misuse.
States struggle to keep definitions aligned as technology shifts.

Chapters

00:00 Origin story of Rep. Priestley

03:15 How lobbying shapes privacy legislation

08:10 What a strong privacy law should include

13:20 Why data minimization is so complicated

18:45 The role of political campaigns in data abuses

24:30 Data brokers and updates, states are pushing

31:40 Authorized agents and deletion requests

36:30 How Vermont approaches sensitive data

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 55: A truly EPIC discussion about Apple ATT

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Alan Butler from the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) joins Alan Chapell to discuss EPICs recent blog post critiquing the March 2025 decision of the French competition authority holding that Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) is anti-competitive. This is a robust discussion pitting the views of the advocacy community against those of the business community... and demonstrating the tension that can sometimes exist between privacy and competition law.

The discussion referenced a number of articles and consumer research.

Epic's blog post on ATT is at https://tinyurl.com/2avfss69

The French Competition decision is at https://tinyurl.com/27tav2dv

Research from Columbia Univ is at https://tinyurl.com/399az6ht

Research from USC is at https://tinyurl.com/55d76n87

Takeaways

EPIC saw Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) as a rare, meaningful win for user privacy amid decades of unchecked data collection.
Alan Butler draws a distinction as between first-party tracking and third-party behavioral tracking - a distinction that may be at odds with competition regulators such as the UK Competition and Markets Authority.
Butler argued that consent pop-ups and CMPs are manipulative, not genuine privacy controls - Chapell agreed, but noted that Apple uses its own form of manipulation with ATT.
European regulators viewed ATT as anti-competitive, but Butler said ATT rightly prioritizes user privacy over ad-tech interests.
Chapell provided research suggesting that Apple's cohort tracking might not be as user-friendly as some advocates have suggested.
Apple’s ad revenue growth in the wake of ATT raised competition and fairness concerns.
Butler called for ad models that allow publisher sustainability without compromising user privacy.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and EPIC’s role in privacy advocacy
02:30 Apple’s App Tracking Transparency explained
04:45 Ad-tech backlash and regulatory scrutiny in Europe
06:15 First-party vs. third-party data use distinctions
09:50 How tracking and profiling differ across contexts
12:40 Consent mechanisms and why they fail users
15:50 The “double consent” debate under EU law
20:00 Competition concerns and privacy as a design choice
24:30 Publisher monetization and skepticism of tracking’s value
28:00 Intersection of privacy, competition, and market power
31:30 Consumer understanding of ATT and tracking preferences
34:00 Apple’s data use and the question of transparency
37:00 Whether ATT unfairly advantages Apple
41:00 Broader implications for competition and privacy balance
45:30 Parity between ATT and consent systems discussed
48:30 Closing reflections on privacy, fairness, and user control

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 54: The Enshittification of Everything (including digital media)

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Cory Doctorow is a prolific writer of both fiction and non-fiction. His latest book is Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Went Wrong and What To Do About It. Cory and host Alan Chapell discuss the three stages of enshittification, its root causes, and the underlying social movement that is critical to addressing (and perhaps even reversing) its impact.

Recognizing that they come at this from very different perspectives, Alan and Cory also go deep into some of the endemic challenges of the ads space while wrestling with pro's and con's of data minimization, contextual advertising and how to offer a private right of action to the enforcement of privacy laws. Alan's Substack on CIPA the VPPA and anti-SLAPP laws is at https://chapell.substack.com/p/can-anti-slapp-save-ad-tech-from and should complement the discussion.

Cory's bio is at ⁠https://craphound.com/bio/⁠ and you can find out more about his book Enshittification at ⁠https://tinyurl.com/y7u698a6⁠.

Takeaways

Enshittification describes how digital platforms decay under monopoly power, shifting value from users to advertisers and then shareholders.
Monopoly and weak regulation allow corporations to capture markets and regulators, eroding user rights and competition.
Loss of interoperability and restrictive IP laws (like the DMCA) prevent users from fixing or improving technology.
Privacy and data exploitation are central to tech monopolies’ power, stronger, simpler rules are needed over complex consent systems.
Behavioral advertising should be replaced by contextual models to reduce surveillance and restore balance for publishers.
Private right of action can help enforce privacy rights when regulators fail.
Global antitrust movements in Europe, Canada, and Asia show more progress than the U.S.
Coalition building across privacy, labor, and antitrust advocates is key to countering corporate concentration.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Enshittification explained
04:20 How monopolies cause platform decay
11:15 Market consolidation and regulatory capture
13:30 Tech worker power and the loss of interoperability
20:25 Key issues, privacy, competition, and IP
27:25 Problems with consent-based privacy systems
29:45 Case for banning behavioral advertising
41:25 Enforcement and the role of private litigation
51:00 Antitrust progress and shifting global momentum
55:30 Building coalitions to fight tech monopolies

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 53: A successful career in privacy.

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0000

The care and feeding of a successful career - particularly in privacy or regulatory circles remains an under-discussed topic. Career coach Doug Miller joins Alan to discuss the changing role of the privacy pro over the past two decades and the challenges we all face as we try to juggle the goals of making an impact while finding happiness.

Takeaways

Privacy executives must engage with the organization to change minds.
Building alliances is crucial for effective privacy advocacy.
It's important to connect with C-suite members beyond the CEO.
Understanding product launch goals can align privacy initiatives.
Strategic thinking is essential for future planning in organizations.
The context of the industry influences product implementation.
Collaboration across teams enhances privacy efforts.
Privacy considerations should be integrated into product development.
Long-term planning is vital for organizational success.
Effective communication can bridge gaps in understanding privacy needs.
Career burnout for privacy and regulatory pros is real - Doug shares a number of tips for career development.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction & Evolution of Privacy
04:20 Early Privacy Careers & AOL Story
07:30 Mergers, Culture & Lessons Learned
09:20 Shifting from Reactive to Proactive Privacy
16:30 Convincing Leadership & Building Value
20:50 Career Growth, Burnout & Reinvention
38:40 Curiosity, Purpose & Closing Thoughts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 52: State Privacy Law with Senator James Maroney

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0000

On this episode, Alan Chapell is joined by Connecticut State Senator James Maroney as the Senator shares the backstory regarding how he got involved in pushing for a privacy law in Connecticut, how those efforts are impacted by lobbying efforts, and how different states are collaborating to create the privacy and AI patchwork.

The Senator also shares what's on his mind when it comes to future privacy and AI laws for Connecticut. The Senator's bio is available at https://www.senatedems.ct.gov/senator/james-maroney/bio" Takeaways

Privacy policymaking often starts accidentally, not by design.

Lobbying pressure remains the biggest barrier to passing strong privacy laws.

Persistence and bipartisan cooperation helped Connecticut succeed after three years.

The Global Privacy Control requirement made Connecticut a national privacy leader.

Simplified opt-out processes improve user empowerment and enforcement.

Consent fatigue weakens privacy protections; minimization is a better path.

Broad definitions of personal data can discourage privacy innovation.

Data brokers and AI oversight are the next frontiers in state privacy policy.

Multi-state collaboration is reshaping privacy and AI governance in the U.S.

Federal law should set a strong floor, not a ceiling, for privacy protections.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Senator Maroney’s background 01:00 How privacy legislation found him 02:32 Early challenges and heavy lobbying resistance 05:04 Lessons from failed attempts and building allies 07:46 Adding the Global Privacy Control requirement 10:02 Balancing consent fatigue with real user protection 12:45 Defining personal vs. de-identified data 15:31 Strengthening Connecticut’s law through updates 17:47 Considering data broker oversight and the DELETE Act 20:31 Multi-state collaboration and AI policy efforts 23:45 Regulating sensitive data and consent standards 27:00 Authorized agents and consumer rights limits 31:02 Rulemaking challenges and avoiding patchwork laws 35:32 Federal preemption, enforcement, and private actions 40:30 Enforcement, lawsuits, and the search for balance 43:00 Closing remarks and UConn basketball predictions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 51: What does "Apple in China" have to do with the digital media regulatory space?

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Journalist Patrick McGee joins host Alan Chapell to discuss his book "Apple in China" as Alan draws additional pearls of wisdom from Patrick's work that can be used to guide everyone working in the digital media and regulatory world. From an in-depth discussion of geopolitics, a funny Seinfeld reference and (and a less funny one about Michael Moore) and important lessons for regulatory folks looking to hold your attention.... this is a great discussion. It's also helpful for everyone in the ads space to have a clear sense of Apple's motivations. You can buy Apple in China here - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Apple-in-China/Patrick-McGee/9781668053379

Takeaways

Apple’s design-first philosophy thrived in China’s uniquely flexible manufacturing ecosystem.
The partnership between Apple and China turned into a masterclass in innovation — and imitation
“China speed” gave Apple unmatched production agility, but also trained future competitors.
Apple underestimated how much intellectual property and know-how it was exporting.
Patrick McGee frames Apple’s China story as both a business triumph and a geopolitical shift.
Privacy remains central to Apple’s brand — but compromises in China tell a more complex story.
The book reveals how Apple’s success fueled China’s tech dominance and influenced global policy.
Regulatory lessons: even the biggest players can be blinded by their own success.
Patrick’s storytelling turns a complex supply chain saga into an engaging, human narrative.Alan Chapell emphasizes that clear storytelling is key to making policy and economics resonate.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:52 The Premise Behind Apple in China

03:10 How Apple’s Design Culture Met China’s Flexibility

05:40 Training the Competition: The Hidden Cost of Outsourcing

08:15 “China Speed” and the Rise of Domestic Tech Rivals

12:20 Apple’s Privacy Paradox in the Chinese Market

15:05 Lessons for Regulators and Global Businesses

17:45 Storytelling as a Tool for Complex Topics

19:30 Reflections on Apple’s Future and Geopolitical Risks

21:00 Supporting Local Bookstores and Final Thoughts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 50: Part 2 - Jon Leibowitz on Antitrust and Privacy in today's digital media marketplace

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Alan Chapell continues his discussion with Jon Leibowitz on some of the key regulatory issues raised from 2004 - 2013. This includes the investigation re: Google Buzz and Google's settlement of FTC charges it Misrepresented Privacy Assurances to Users of Apple's Safari Internet Browser (which Alan believes had a huge impact on Google's approach to probabilistic advertising). They also talk about the historical regulatory role of telecommunications companies vs edge providers like Google and Meta as well as a discussion of the ongoing antitrust cases Google is facing.

Takeaways

First-party data has real limits; it isn’t a universal fix.
The FTC’s Intel case shows antitrust can unlock competition (e.g., aiding Nvidia’s rise).
Journalism’s sustainability is strained by dominant platforms; collective bargaining may help.
Google’s 2012 Safari case (rooted in earlier Buzz issues) became a lasting privacy deterrent.
Privacy enforcement reshaped ads, pushing platforms away from third-party data tactics.
Structural vs. behavioral remedies: breakups are rare; well-designed conduct rules often carry the day.
Chrome divestiture was viewed as overreach; Judge Mehta’s search remedies felt cautious.
Consent fatigue is real; data minimization and retention limits may work better.
Privacy trade-offs vary by socioeconomic context; one-size rules can entrench incumbents.
The ad-supported web has eras: DoubleClick (’94–’03), Google’s ascent (’04–’13), then Big Tech dominance.

Chapters

00:09 Introduction & episode setup; first-party data riff; sponsor note 02:06 Intel case lessons; exclusivity, APIs, and competition effects 04:02 Journalism town halls (2009–10); platforms, news economics, misinformation 08:54 Google Safari cookie-circumvention case; ties to Google Buzz order 12:30 Consent vs. probabilistic advertising; platform caution post-settlement 15:00 Privacy trade-offs across economic classe 15:50 Google Search remedies; amicus brief; Chrome divestiture debate 23:30 Remedies are hard: structural vs. behavioral; Microsoft as precedent 26:00 Post-FTC: privacy coalition with Mary Bono; telco vs. edge provider rules 29:31 Rulemaking hurdles (Mag-Moss); unrealized federal privacy push 30:27 Regulation can entrench incumbents; EU lessons for startups 32:01 Data minimization & retention over blanket consent 32:50 Closing: three eras of the ad-supported internet; subscribe CTA

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 49: Part 1 - Jon Leibowitz and the FTC's role during the early Google Era

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Alan Chapell is joined by Jon Leibowitz, former chair of the FTC to discuss the Commission's impact on the digital media landscape from 2004 until 2013. In part 1 of the discussion, Chapell and Mr. Leibowitz talk about the FTC's COPPA rethink, the DNT standard, some early FTC attempts to rethink journalism, and some of the antitrust and privacy enforcements against big tech during his tenure. Jon Leibowitz' bio may be found here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Leibowitz.

Takeaways

The FTC’s push for “Do Not Track” showed how hard it is to get industry consensus on privacy.
Global Privacy Control may succeed where “Do Not Track” failed, as cookies phase out.
COPPA’s update made pseudonymous data count as personal data, reshaping online advertising.
Age verification measures create new risks, even while aiming to protect children.
Industry self-regulation (like ad icons) fell short, with state laws setting stronger standards.
The FTC’s “bully pulpit” speeches often influenced industry behavior more than enforcement.
Google’s acquisitions (DoubleClick, AdMob, etc.) raised competition questions but were welcomed by much of the ad industry.
The tension between innovation, regulation, and consumer protection continues to shape digital advertising.

Chapters
00:00 Introductions & Setting the Scene
03:00 Achievements at the FTC: Early Digital Ad Regulation
08:00 The Rise and Stall of “Do Not Track”
15:00 Protecting Kids Online & COPPA’s Redefinition of Data
24:00 Self-Regulation vs. State Regulation in Ads
32:00 Antitrust and Google’s Expansion
40:00 Closing Reflections on Innovation and Oversight

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 48: The incredible shrinking definition of EU personal data

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 10:00:00 -0000

UK data protection pro Robert Bateman joins host Alan Chapell to discuss how the EU seems to be heading in the opposite direction than the U.S. as the CJEU narrows the definition of personal data ever so slightly. Robert also shares thoughts on a cookie consent consult taking place in the UK - and gives a prediction on the future of EU to U.S. cross-border transfers.

Takeaways

The definition of personal data has evolved significantly since the GDPR.
Pseudonymization is often misunderstood and oversold in its benefits.
The SRB case clarified the relative nature of personal data definitions.
ICO's consultation may lead to significant changes in cookie regulations.
Cross-border data transfers are essential for the digital economy.
The adequacy decision ensures data safety when transferring data to the US.
Max Schrems' challenges have significantly impacted data transfer frameworks.
The ICO's approach to enforcement may signal a shift in privacy regulations.
The role of journalism is crucial in understanding and shaping data protection issues.
Different perspectives in data protection can foster better dialogue and solutions.

Chapters

00:00 Evolving Definitions of Personal Data

06:03 The SRB Case and Its Implications

11:45 Rethinking Privacy Regulations in the UK

17:59 Cross-Border Data Transfers and Their Importance

29:40 Challenges to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework

35:43 The Role of Journalism in Data Protection

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 47: The Datatilsynet's Tobias Judin on consent

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 10:00:00 -0000

This week, Tobias Judin from Norway's data protection regulator, the Datatilsynet (and EDPB representative), joins host Alan Chapell to talk about trust, (mis)aligned incentives, and consent in the European ads marketplace. We go deep on the challenges around pay or consent models for digital media as the EDPB plans to issue guidance for the larger publishing industry. Will pay or consent save the publishing industry - or become a drag on data protection law?

Alan refers to the NOYB guidance on pay or consent, so we're sharing that here: https://noyb.eu/sites/default/files/2025-07/Pay_or_Okay_Report_2025_web.pdf.

Takeaways

Data protection can enhance a company's competitive edge.
The EDPB aims for harmonized GDPR interpretation across Europe.
Consent mechanisms are often misunderstood and misapplied.
Behavioral advertising creates challenges for data protection compliance.
The current consent model may not be sustainable long-term.
Pay for consent could lead to inequities in data protection.
Size and scale of data processing influence regulatory focus.
Trust in data handling can lead to increased ad revenue.
The GDPR's fairness principle needs reevaluation.
Data protection is essential for supporting democracy.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Data Protection in Europe

01:18 Understanding the Role of the EDPB

04:42 Data Protection as a Competitive Advantage

08:41 The Challenges of Consent Mechanisms

11:54 Proportionality in Data Processing

16:42 The Future of Behavioral Advertising

21:53 The Concept of Pay for Consent

26:58 The Role of Size and Scale in Data Protection

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 46: A legal critique of the Google Antitrust Remedies Decision

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 10:00:00 -0000

This week, host Alan Chapell is joined by Daniel Hanley of the Open Markets Institute as they attempt to make legal sense of Judge Mehta's September 2, 2025, decision in the Google Search Antitrust case. In other words, they outline "WHY" the Google decision is legally problematic.

Takeaways

Judge Mehta’s remedies ruling left major loopholes for Google.
Judicial caution and AI narratives diluted strong enforcement.
DOJ missed chances to highlight Google’s credibility problems.
Structural remedies were avoided despite clear legal precedent.
Publishers and competitors remain vulnerable under weak remedies.

Chapters

00:01 Setting the Stage: Google’s regulatory storm and Mehta’s decision.
01:30 From Liability to Remedies: Strong liability ruling vs. weak remedies.
04:20 Why the Pullback?: Judicial caution and Google’s AI framing.
12:30 Legal Inconsistencies: Contradictory remedies undermine competition.
25:10 Appeals and Outlook: Next steps for Google, DOJ, and the states.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 45: Cobun Zweifel-Keegan on the great U.S. state regulatory experiment

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Cobun Zweifel-Keegan joins host Alan Chapell to discuss key themes around U.S. state efforts to enforce on privacy AI and consumer protection. We talk about regulatory tension between the federal and state governments, the key areas of focus at the state level and the impact of state enforcement. We also riff a bit on Alan's recent Substack article comparing Spotify's Panama Playlists with the 1987 events leading up to the Video Privacy Protection Act - https://chapell.substack.com/p/why-congress-will-pass-a-privacy.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 44: Justin Evans and the Optimist's View of Data

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Alan Chapell is joined by Justin Evan's where they discuss his book: The Little Book of Data. While designed for business teams, the book (and the podcast) also lights a path that can be helpful to the legal and regulatory folks. Our conversation also makes broader points about the creative process and how to stay relevant in your career by remaining curious.

Check out the Little Book of Data at https://www.harpercollinsleadership.com/9781400248353/the-little-book-of-data/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 43: Behind the curtain at the FTC

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Alan is joined by Shoshana Wodinsky, veteran journalist in the ads space turned tech expert for the Federal Trade Commission. Shoshana offers an unfiltered view of how things sometimes function at the Commission - and shares some insights on how recent FTC policies impact the ads space.

Takeaways

The U.S. lacks a national privacy law, relying on state laws.
The FTC has historically set privacy standards.
Lina Khan's leadership marked a shift in consumer protection.
The Office of Technology was created to address tech issues.
Bureaucracy can slow down regulatory processes significantly.
Investigations can sometimes feel like fishing expeditions.
The FTC's approach to bias in advertising raises questions.
Legal theories in advertising can be complex and vague.
Collaboration among commissioners is crucial for effective regulation.
Upholding the truth is essential in regulatory work.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Privacy and Regulation

03:08 The Role of the FTC in Privacy Standards

05:43 Lina Khan's Impact on Consumer Protection

08:53 Navigating Between Technology and Economics

11:33 The Challenges of Bureaucracy in Regulation

14:45 Investigating Bias in Advertising

17:30 The Complexity of Legal Theories

20:16 The Nature of FTC Investigations

23:16 The Balance of Ideology in the FTC

26:32 The Future of Privacy Regulation

29:29 Conclusion and Reflections on FTC Dynamics

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 42: Contextual Integrity in the ads space

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Alan discusses Contextual Integrity as applied to the ad space with Professor Helen Nissenbaum. They go deep into profiling and the use of PETs. Alan encourages listeners to check out some of Helen's writing at https://nissenbaum.tech.cornell.edu/main_cv.html#pub

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 41: DuckDuckGo on balancing privacy and competition in the ads space

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Kamyl Bazbaz and Joseph Jerome from DuckDuckGo join Alan to discuss the role of the browser, the intersection between privacy and competition and how DuckDuckGo differentiates itself within the craziness of larger ads space.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 40: Google's Ad Dominance with Ari Paparo

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Ari Paparo and Alan Chapell discuss Ari's new book Yield: How Google Bought, Built, and Bullied its Way to Advertising Dominance. They also talk about the potential impact of the fallout of Google's antitrust trials on the marketplace. And Ari provides some insights as to why it's difficult for privacy and regulatory issues to make their way into the C-suite.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Epispde 39: The Google Search Antitrust Remedies

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Megan Gray joins host Alan Chapell for a discussion of the various remedies being proposed in the Google Search Antitrust Trial with the DOJ as we head towards Judge Mehta's decision in that case later this summer.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 38: Impact of FTC v Meta with Brendan Benedict

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000

The Meta antitrust trial has been undercovered with in the ads space. Host Alan Chapell brings antitrust litigator Brendan Benedict on to get a sense of the core arguments of both the FTC and Meta and make some predictions on how this case will play out.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 37: Rescuing Privacy and Consumer Protection w/ Samuel Levine

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Former Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the FTC Samuel AA Levin joins Alan Chapell to discuss a recent law review article he co-authored, how privacy and consumer protection were undercut during the 1980's, and how the Lina Kahn FTC sought to bring them back. Within the context of the digital ads space, they discussed: DNT, Industry self-regulation, notice and choice and the pro's and con's of a harms based approach.

Check out the Stanford Law Review article Sam co-authored with Lina Kahn and Stephanie T. Nguyen titled: After Notice and Choice: Reinvigorating “Unfairness” to Rein In Data Abuses. The article is available at: https://www.stanfordlawreview.org/print/article/after-notice-and-choice-reinvigorating-unfairness-to-rein-in-data-abuses/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 36: Buy side vs Sell side vs Regulatory side

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Alan Chapell moderates a debate between Erez Levin (buy-side) and Gareth Glaser (sell-side) on how the ad tech marketplace is shifting while interjecting a few nuggets about the role of privacy and competition as we look towards 2026 and beyond.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 35: Industry Trade Reporters vs Spin

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Journalist Marty Swant (Digiday, Forbes, NY Times) joins Alan Chapell to talk about the ways an ad industry trade journalist combats spin in their search for truth. Marty also drops some thoughts on key trends in the ads space that are not getting nearly enough attention.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 34: Jonathan Kanter on digital media & ad tech

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000

In part two of this two part interview, host Alan Chapell and Jonathan Kanter go deep on the Google ad tech antitrust trial remedies phase.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 33: Jonathan Kanter on Antitrust & Search

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Jonathan Kanter joins host Alan Chapell to discuss the changes to antitrust enforcement over the past five years and how those changes were reflected in the DOJ's enforcement against Google in the search antitrust trial.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 32: Kids privacy in the ad space with Gary Kibel

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Alan Chapell chats with Gary Kibel of the law firm Davis & Gilbert about children's privacy in the ads space. We start back in 1998 with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and share how the FTC has revamped COPPA via rulemaking over the years. We also discuss state level privacy laws' approach to children's advertising, KOSA and the likelihood of the U.S. Congress enacting COPPA 2.0. We end with a discussion of Congress potentially preempting State AI laws.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 31: Dennis Buchheim Part 2 - on Privacy Enhancing Technologies & Standards.

Wed, 28 May 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Alan Chapell and Dennis Buchheim talk about the future of addressability and how to create ad standards which are both principled and fair. We also question the value of legacy tech in the ads space.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 30: Dennis Buchheim Part 1 - on industry trades

Wed, 21 May 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Alan Chapell and Dennis Buchheim go deep on some of the historical challenges faced by IAB TechLab as it created Project Re arc and started moving towards a post-cookie ad space starting in 2019.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 29: Privacy Enhancing Technologies with Brian May

Wed, 14 May 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Privacy technologist Brian May joins Alan Chapell to discuss the pro's and con's of Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) within the ads space - and how sometimes we need to collectively take difficult steps in order for the industry to prosper.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 28: Professor Daniel Solove on Privacy

Wed, 07 May 2025 10:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Alan Chapell chats with GW law school professor Daniel Solove about his latest book "On Privacy and Technology" as they try to find common ground between under and over regulation of the ads space.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 27: Richard Kramer on Google Antitrust Remedies

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Alan Chapell speaks with Richard Kramer from Arete Research about the pro's and con's of various remedies being discussed in connection with Google's search, ad tech and Privacy Sandbox cases.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 26: Will deprecating cookies improve the quality of the ads space?

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Alan Chapell is joined by media futurist and former Googler Erez Levin - who makes the case for improved metrics and incentives in digital media. Erez suggests that third-party cookie deprecation and potential antitrust break up of big tech could serve as a means to reboot the ads space towards better outcomes. Alan mixes his Dylan metaphors to make a point that forced blindness carries its own risk.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 25: Rob Leathern - Why We Haven't Fixed Online Advertising Yet

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Rob Leathern joins host Alan Chapell to discuss and debate Rob's 10 step plan for fixing the ads space - and why those things probably won't happen.

Rob's Notes 19: Why We Haven't Fixed Online Advertising Yet

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 24: Rich Caccappolo - Can Publishers win the Peace?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Rich Caccappolo of DMG joins Alan Chapell to discuss news publishers' approach to content monetization and AI amidst all the regulatory noise.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 23: Rick Bruner - The value prop of measurement

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Research and measurement guru Rick Bruner joins Alan to discuss how measurement fits into the ads space - and stirs the pot a bit re: the need for identity in measurement.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 22: Jessica Lee on navigating the health targeting rules

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Alan Chapell speaks with Jessica Lee from Loeb & Loeb on the challenges of navigating the health targeting space in the U.S. and Europe.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 21: Omer Tene talks generative AI

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Omer Tene joins host Alan Chapell to discuss generative AI and how to approach an AI impact assessment. Alan also recalls some uncomfortable discussions with tech founders.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 20: Eric Goldman on Section 230

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, host Alan Chapell chats with Professor Eric Goldman from Santa Clara University Law School. They talk about Section 230 of the Communication Decency Act: how it came about, why it was critical to the growth of the consumer Internet economy and how it remains an essential (but under-discussed) part of the digital ads space to this day. They also talk about how Section 230 is coming under attack and share a few predictions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 19: Peter Craddock on the history of consent and personal data

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Peter Craddock joins Alan to talk about the history of consent and personal data under EU data protection law - and the evolution of cookie walls, paywalls, and "Pay or Consent" as used by large platforms.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 18: Eric Seufert on whether Europe will kill Apple's ATT

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Eric Seufert of Mobile Dev Memo joins Alan to talk about Apple ATT and the latest decision coming from Germany's Federal Cartel Office (the Bundeskartellamt). Eric shares helpful background on ATT and why competition regulators are taking issue with Apple on competition and privacy.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 17: Ana Milicevic of Sparrow Advisors on cookies, the DMV and the past and future of adtech

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0000

On this episode, host Alan Chapell has a candid discussion with Ana Milicevic about how content monetization lost its way, the risks of over simplification of privacy and the end of an Internet without borders. There's also a lesson to be learned about why Ana doesn't like the DMV.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 16: Ricky Sutton of the Future Media newsletter and podcast

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0000

In this Episode, host Alan Chapell talks about the historical and existential challenges being faced by the news publishing industry with journalist and tech entrepreneur Ricky Sutton of the Future Media newsletter and podcast. They discuss what publishers need to be thinking about as they combat big tech. Tl:dr - robust antitrust enforcement is only step one.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 15: Arielle Garcia on the Omnicom IPG merger and agencies competing with big tech

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Host Alan Chapell talks about the proposed Omnicom IPG merger and the future of agency holding companies with Arielle Garcia of Check My Ads.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 14: Julia Shullman on Google's device fingerprinting policy shift

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0000

On this episode of the Monopoly Report, host Alan Chapell discusses Google's December 2024 policy shift on device fingerprinting with adtech privacy and legal thought leader Julia Shullman. They attempt to place historical context on the definition of device fingerprinting and speculate on Google's rationale - both for Google's recent about face and for instituting the anti-fingerprinting policy in the first place. They also talk about changes coming to the CTV ads and privacy space and share a few stories outlining how difficult it can be to gain consensus in the ads space when it comes to industry standards.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Omar Tawakol, founder of BlueKai, talks about his new start-up Rembrandt that just raised $23 million for AI product placement

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Omar Tawakol was the founder of BlueKai, a seminal company in the third-party data and DMP spaces. He talks to Alan about privacy, identity, and his new start-up Rembrandt that just raised $23 million for AI product placement.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 12: Standards for data clean rooms with Jules Polonetsky and Doug Miller

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Jules Polonetsky and Doug Miller of the Future of Privacy Forum join Alan Chapell to talk clean rooms. Are standards needed for data clean rooms?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 11: Alysa Hutnik on CIPA lawsuits and the implications for privacy law

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 13:00:00 -0000

Alysa Hutnik is a privacy law expert at Kelley Drye & Warren and she and Alan talk about the strange phenomenon of CPIA lawsuits using wiretapping statutes.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 10: David LeDuc of the NAI

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 13:15:00 -0000

The NAI is a trade association that was formed 25 years ago to create privacy standards for digital advertising. David has been with the NAI for six and a half years and has previously worked on public policy and legislative issues in the software industry.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 9: Don Marti on the politics of browsers

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Don is the VP of Ecosystem Innovation at Raptive, and spent over four years at Mozilla. We have a wide-ranging conversation about the browsers, do not track, and how they may innovate in a post-antritrust world.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 8: Garrett McGrath of Magnite on Sandbox and the CMA

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:00:00 -0000

The latest episode of the Monopoly Report dives deep into the complexities surrounding Google's Privacy Sandbox and the implications of the deprecation of third-party cookies. Host Alan Chappelle welcomes Garrett McGrath, SVP of product at Magnite and board chair for Prebid, to discuss the challenges and nuances of the evolving ad tech landscape. They explore the UK Competition and Markets Authority's investigation into Google's plans and the potential impact on competition within the advertising ecosystem. Garrett sheds light on the technical intricacies of the new APIs, emphasizing concerns about latency and the inherent advantages they may provide Google over competitors. As the conversation unfolds, they also reflect on the broader ramifications for publishers and the open internet, questioning whether the industry's focus on the Privacy Sandbox has diverted critical resources and attention from more pressing issues.

Takeaways:

The UK Competition and Markets Authority is investigating Google's deprecation of third-party cookies and its competitive impact.
Garrett McGrath emphasizes the challenging nature of the W3C working group's process and alignment issues.
Google's decision to offer a choice prompt regarding third-party cookies raises questions about user privacy and competition.
The recent CMA reports suggest a governance framework that might allow Google to self-regulate its practices.
Garrett expresses concerns about the potential negative effects of the Privacy Sandbox on the open internet.
The effectiveness of on-device auctions in browsers remains untested at scale, raising practical concerns.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 7: Bill Wise on the Google monopoly and what to do (or not do) about it

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0000

The latest episode of the Monopoly Report brings guests Bill Wise from MediaOcean to discuss the ongoing cases brought by the DOJ and the UK Competition and Markets Authority, emphasizing the potential for structural remedies that could reshape the advertising landscape. Bill shares his insights on how Google's competitive strategies have positioned them at the forefront of the industry and whether their practices could be seen as monopolistic. The conversation also touches on the challenges of the Privacy Sandbox initiative and the complexities surrounding data access and consumer privacy in digital advertising.

tMbIR9G5VUTluDETcNKx

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 6: Duncan McCall on Protecting Consumer Location Data

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Alan Chapell and Duncan McCall talk location privacy in the advertising industry, highlighting the pressing need for better consumer protection. They discuss how the precise location space has faced significant scrutiny due to privacy concerns, particularly as real-world examples of harm emerge. Duncan shares insights from his experience founding PlaceIQ, illustrating how the landscape has evolved from basic location data usage to more sophisticated targeting and analytics, while also addressing the challenges of fraud and misinformation. The conversation emphasizes the importance of self-regulation within the industry and the role of major tech companies in shaping privacy rules, often prioritizing their business interests over consumer welfare. As they explore the balance between innovation and ethical practices, they underscore the ongoing struggle to keep consumer data safe in an ever-evolving digital environment.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

Google
Apple
Amazon
Meta
Walmart
Planned Parenthood
Blue Kai
Reclaim
Fetch
PlaceIQ

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 5: What we learned from the updated DOJ and Google findings of fact

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0000

We got a last minute document dump as 1,000 pages of "facts" were published ny the DOJ and Google in advance of final arguments in the ad tech antitrust case. Alan and Ari try to figure out what it all means.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 4: Is Tik Tok really going to get banned? With Megan Gray.

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Well, is it? We walk through the law, the court case, and the politics of a Tik Tok ban.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 3: Terry Kawaja on the impact of the FTC on M&A and a potential Google spin-out

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Terry Kawaja of Luma Partners comes on to discuss a wide range of tropics including Lina Kahn's effect on the M&A market and the potential for a Google spin-out.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 2: Tim Cowen on the proposed search antitrust remedies

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 13:00:00 -0000

Tim Cowen, the Chair of the Antitrust Practice at Preiskel & Co LLP comes on the show to talk with Alan and Ari about the DOJ's remedies framework and how it might play out.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 1: Jason Kint and Alan Chapell on what's next for Google

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 13:00:00 -0000

This is our inaugural episode of the latest podcast from Marketecture, The Monopoly Report. Hosts Ari Paparo and Alan Chapell will be interviewing legal, policy, and business experts about the ongoing antitrust cases against the advertising giants.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices