Israeli Firm Accused of Spying on Millions Via Online Ads

An Israeli digital technology company, Discover-Tech, has allegedly used internet advertisements to spy on hundreds of millions of users globally, according to a Reuters investigation published Thursday. Researchers from Citizen Lab and Confiant found that the company exploited ad placements to identify users, track their online activities, and facilitate the installation of spyware on their devices. These advertisements reportedly appeared on over 120,000 websites and 75,000 mobile applications, including ad networks used by the U.S. Pentagon, the United Nations, and the European Commission, raising significant privacy concerns. Users could be tracked simply by viewing a website or opening an app that displayed one of these ads, with no further interaction required. In some instances, Discover-Tech also allegedly attempted to obtain smartphone users' phone numbers. The investigation highlights the risks of exploiting digital advertising networks for espionage, as these platforms can inadvertently collect user data. Separately, researchers linked spyware from another Israeli company, Candiru, to the compromise of 45 Al Jazeera devices between 2024 and 2025. In response to the Discover-Tech revelations, Google and Comcast removed the company from their advertising platforms, and IAB Europe suspended its operations.