The Big Story

Google Analytics is removing the IP address from its global product. We get into the data privacy whys, as well as what Google Analytics is building in its place, in this week’s episode. Also: The EARN IT act and how American Express overhauled its attribution model in anticipation of loss of signal.

It was hard to imagine how mobile measurement platforms (MMPs) could survive Apple’s ATT changes. But the MMPs aren’t dying, they’re thriving, says Branch’s Alex Bauer, on the heels of raising $300 million.

When the time comes to take up arms, the best weapons – or tools – are the ones you’re most familiar with. And in Ukraine, advertising is becoming a weapon of choice wielded against misinformation, explains MGID CEO Sergey Denisenko. He joins the podcast from western Ukraine to report on the situation, and how the ad community can help. Also in this episode: Black creators weigh in on equitable (and not so equitable) payment for influencers.

This week, there’s only one big story: the Russian invasion and war in Ukraine. The worlds of media, marketing and technology are reckoning with their role in a time of war. Difficult theoretical questions of content moderation and information access are all of a sudden not-so-theoretical and advertisers, too, must consider their role.

Signal loss is muddying Meta’s algorithms and causing short-term pain (and stock dives) for the company formerly known as Facebook. Its partners and advertisers are feeling it, too. But signal loss is also prompting digital transformation and creating strong tailwinds – depending on who you are in ad tech.

It’s the beginning of the end of the Android Ad ID. What Google’s mobile privacy sandbox announcements means. Plus: Why Facebook’s ad approval process irritates telehealth company Wisp.

Audio advertising is maturing (or going through puberty?): Spotify is the latest platform to weather a content controversy (over Joe Rogan’s misinformation). Meanwhile, competitor SiriusXM is building first-party identifiers. Plus: the quiet Olympics, and why B2B advertisers love the Super Bowl.

Are you ready for Google’s most recent legal drama? We cover the latest – and newly unredacted – eye-popping details from the state-led antitrust lawsuit against Google. Plus: the tech hiccups responsible for your most annoying CTV ad experiences.