Who Targets Me

Who Targets Me

Website
Who Targets Me

Founded in 2017

This tool allows users to create an anonymous profile, then collect information about the political and other ads that they see, along with information about why they were targeted with those ads. The tool can provide users with statistics on who/what has been targeting them and uses this information to build a database of political advertising and targeting.

Who Targets Me is not affiliated with RAND. It was selected for this database because it fits our researchers' inclusion criteria.

Tool type
Disinformation tracking
Status
Fully operational
Intended users
General public
Cost
Free
Tool focus
This tool is both content- and process-focused. It directly evaluates information (e.g., authenticating a photo), but also assesses how information is produced and disseminated.
Method or technology
Machine learning and AI
Is the tool automated?
Yes
Founding organization
Information not available
Founder/primary contact
Sam Jeffers and Louis Knight-Webb

How is this tool working to address disinformation?

The tool has two aims. First, it seeks to provide users with more information about online targeting. This encourages people to be more aware of targeted advertisements and disinformation, and thus become more resilient to it. Second, the tool builds a database of political advertisements and targeting, aiming to put pressure on big tech companies to change their practices regarding transparency and how they handle political ads.

Is there a connection with tech platforms?

None found

Who is funding the tool?

Primary funders are the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, Open Society Foundations Information Programme, and the Democracy Fund, along with smaller sums for partnerships with Oxford and Sheffield Universities, Buzzfeed Germany, and InternetLab in Brazil.

Are there external evaluations?

None found

Search for tools that fight disinformation by name, type, or keyword:

examples: Hamilton 2.0, bot detection, fact-checking