In a chilling revelation, some of the biggest tech companies in the world served ads on a website featuring images of child abuse, inadvertently funding its operations. This scandal throws light into the murky depths of digital advertising.
A Disturbing Discovery
For Krzysztof Franaszek, the nightmare began at work. Franaszek, who runs the advertising research firm Adalytics, stumbled upon sexually explicit images of a very young child on ImgBB, a popular image-sharing website. Even more shocking, these images were flanked by ads from Fortune 500 companies.
He immediately reported this disturbing content to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and child safety organizations. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection confirmed finding at least 35 images flagged by Adalytics that met the criteria for child sexual abuse material (CSAM). “Many advertisers whose ads appeared on this website probably had no idea that they were funding this kind of content,” said Franaszek.
Tech Giants Under Fire
A new report from Adalytics revealed that advertising systems run by tech behemoths like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft had unknowingly funneled money into a site hosting illegal images of child sex abuse. Adalytics documented ads for over 70 large organizations and Fortune 500 companies running alongside explicit content, including ads from MasterCard, Nestlé, Starbucks, Unilever, and even the U.S. government.
On February 7, 2025, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal sent letters to Amazon, Google, and other ad tech companies, demanding accountability. “The dissemination of [child sexual abuse material] is a heinous crime that inflicts irreparable harm on its victims,” their letter to Google stated.
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An Industry-Wide Issue
Most people surfing the web are used to the constant barrage of ads. But the mechanics behind them are anything but straightforward. With ad networks operating in a maze of automated systems, even those running them sometimes don’t know where the money ends up. “It doesn’t cost much to operate a website that serves a few million images per month,” Franaszek noted.
Google, Amazon, and Microsoft Respond
All three companies have since banned ImgBB and its subsidiary site IBB from their advertising systems. “We have zero tolerance when it comes to content promoting child sexual abuse,” a Google spokesperson told the BBC. “Our teams are constantly monitoring Google’s publisher network for this type of content.”
The Complexity of Ad Networks
Digital ads, which reached a whopping $694 billion in 2024, are the lifeblood of the internet. However, advertisers often have no clue where their ads appear. Most ads are placed via ad networks, like those run by Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, where algorithms make the decisions in milliseconds.
A System Riddled with Loopholes
Research by Adalytics and others shows that ad networks have been sending ad revenue to questionable websites featuring foreign propaganda, extremist content, and pornography. “The ad tech industry weaponizes complexity,” said Arielle Garcia, COO at Check My Ads. This complexity makes it easy for malicious sites to slip through.
A Call for Accountability
Laura Edelson, a computer science professor, asserted, “No one is more responsible for this than Google.” She believes that Google’s resources and control over the digital ad landscape mean it bears significant responsibility.
Failing the Brand Safety Test
Despite claims of robust checks by brand safety companies like DoubleVerify, ads for prominent brands still appeared on ImgBB. “If people are putting their trust in these [brand safety] vendors, then they should be reconsidering it,” said Rob Leathern, a former executive at Google.
Regulatory Gaps
Unlike the finance and legal sectors that adhere to strict Know Your Customer (KYC) laws, the digital advertising industry remains largely unregulated. Jacques Marcoux from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection emphasized, “Our experience has been that the tech industry in general has failed to take meaningful action.”
The Need for Action
Without stronger regulations and accountability, experts like Edelson warn that these problems will continue unchecked. “We are not going to fix this problem without better regulation and actual, real, serious consequences for delivering ads that fund horrific companies and activities,” she said.
Take a Stand
It’s time for advertisers, lawmakers, and the public to demand greater transparency and accountability in digital advertising. The safety of our children and the integrity of the internet depend on it.
