Privacy International submission to the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation's Review of Online Targeting

PI responds to a call for evidence on online targeting.

Key advocacy points
  • Over the past decade online targeting has become much more invasive. 
  • People are often unable to meaningfully understand how their data is collected, shared, and used.
Advocacy
Front cover of submission to data ethics and innovation

In considering the impact of online targeting, it is essential that the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation have due regard for privacy as a fundamental right (as enshrined in UK, European, and International Law).

Privacy is essential to the protection of autonomy and human dignity, serving as the foundation upon which other human rights are built. For people to fully participate in democratic society, developments in law and technologies must strengthen and not undermine peoples’ ability to freely enjoy these rights.

Below is PI's response to the call for evidence for the online targeting review.

Over the past decade online targeting has become much more invasive. Targeting today, specifically online targeted advertising, is enabled by the collection, sharing, and processing of massive amounts of people's data. People are often unable to meaningfully understand how their data is collected, shared, and used.

Online targeted advertisement is facilitated by a complex and opaque ecosystem that includes AdTech companies and other third-parties. Reports from the UK's Information Commissioner Office (ICO) highlight concerns with the use of personal data for targeted advertising.

Online targeting has become virtually inescapable and the ecosystem is so complex that it has become impossible for people to know where their data ends up and how they are being targeted.