Marketecture: Get Smart. Fast. Episode 110: Adalytics finds CSAM and ends up in the crosshairs
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Feb 14, 2025 Krzysztof Franaszek, founder of Adalytics and a pioneer in uncovering ad-supported child sexual abuse material, discusses his groundbreaking yet controversial methods in digital advertising. He reveals alarming findings about unsafe ad placements that can endanger vulnerable communities. The conversation touches on the urgent need for transparency and accountability in the ad tech industry. Franaszek candidly shares his experience navigating government investigations and the complexities of ensuring brand safety in an increasingly perilous online landscape.
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Accidental Discovery of CSAM
- Krzysztof Franaszek found a US government ad next to explicit content on imgbb.com during unrelated research.
- This discovery prompted him to investigate further, ultimately uncovering ads for major brands next to CSAM.
CSAM Detection Challenges
- Law enforcement agencies use a hash database of known CSAM images to identify and remove illegal content.
- Platforms like Facebook use this technology for automated scanning and deletion, but altered images can bypass these checks.
Altered CSAM
- Some of the CSAM found on imgbb.com were not exact copies but altered versions of existing images.
- This included AI-generated deepfakes, which can evade traditional hash-matching detection methods.