DraftKings Is Using AI to Supercharge the Harms of Online Behavioral Advertising
11 hours ago
- DraftKings uses AI to target customers most likely to lose bets and respond to gambling promotions, based on their betting records.
- This practice is a form of online behavioral advertising (OBA), which EFF argues should be banned due to its harmful effects.
- DraftKings' machine learning model specifically identifies losing gamblers, including problem gamblers, and sends them targeted ads to encourage more betting, profiting from their vulnerability.
- AI magnifies the harms of OBA by driving more data collection, operating as an opaque black box, and processing data faster.
- Data collected for OBA is sold to insurance companies, banks, and law enforcement agencies like CBP and ICE, expanding surveillance.
- DraftKings uses only first-party data, indicating that limiting third-party data sharing is insufficient; a ban on all behavioral advertising is needed.
- EFF offers resources like Surveillance Self Defense to help individuals protect their data.