Ad tech surveillance poses risks to journalists

Research from the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights at the Harvard Kennedy School indicates that advertising technology (ad tech) creates an architecture of mass surveillance. These systems harvest and distribute user data to build individualized profiles that can be acquired by private companies or governments.

This data collection poses specific risks to journalists, both within their home countries and while in exile. While structural changes are necessary to address these ubiquitous tracking methods, individuals can take steps to limit information gathering by adjusting device and account settings, such as disabling advertising IDs and limiting location permissions.