Facebook accounts flooded with Gambling Ads
Dozens of gambling companies in the UK have been caught secretly funneling their website visitors' data to Meta, Facebook's parent company, without consent. The Observer's investigation has unveiled what appears to be a widespread breach of data protection laws, affecting thousands of unsuspecting users.Testing 150 gambling websites in the UK, investigators discovered that more than a third were using Meta Pixel. This hidden tracking tool automatically harvests user data when someone lands on their website. This data collection happens before visitors even have a chance to accept or decline marketing cookies – a clear violation of privacy laws.
The consequences for users are immediate and concerning. Once their data is captured, Meta's algorithms quickly label them as potential gamblers, opening the floodgates to a deluge of betting advertisements. In one striking example, a single browsing session triggered gambling ads from 49 different betting brands across Facebook. Major players in the industry were implicated in the scandal, including Hollywoodbets, Bwin, and Lottoland. When confronted with the evidence, several companies scrambled to either update their websites or completely remove the tracking tool.
The revelation has sparked outrage among lawmakers. Iain Duncan Smith, who chairs the parliamentary group on gambling reform, has demanded "immediate intervention," declaring the practice "wholly in breach of the law." While Meta deflected responsibility by pointing to its terms of service, which technically require companies to obtain user consent, privacy experts argue the tech giant is complicit. "Meta is systematically looking the other way, using its terms and conditions as a shield," says data privacy expert Wolfie Christl.
The UK's Information Commissioner's Office has launched a broader investigation into tracking pixels, wielding the threat of £500,000 fines for violations. Meanwhile, the gambling industry continues to defend its marketing practices, even as pressure mounts for stricter regulation of online betting advertisements.
