The Monopoly Report

Alan Chapell
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In-depth coverage of big tech's antitrust woes from Marketecture.tv. We are covering the Google search and ad tech trials and everything else happening. Subscribe to our newsletter at https://monopoly.marketecture.tv

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Episode 72: Can Mozilla succeed by doing right by its User base?

    Host Alan Chapell is joined by Ajit Varma and Kush Amlani from Mozilla, where they talk about the intersection of privacy and competition, the weaponization of privacy, and how Mozilla is placing a bet that staying true to their core privacy principles will enable Firefox to succeed over the long term.  The Chapell Regulatory Insider may be found at - https://chapellreport.substack.com/   Kush Amlani is Director, Global Competition & Regulation at Mozilla, leading the work to create a level playing field in digital markets internationally. Prior to joining Mozilla, Kush was a Senior Competition & Regulatory Lawyer at the BBC for five years, based in London. He joined the BBC from SJ Berwin LLP (later Kings & Wood Mallesons), where he worked on antitrust cases across the UK and EU, spanning sectors such as energy, media, telecoms, and pharmaceuticals. In his role as Head of Firefox, Ajit Varma leads the development of the Firefox strategy, ensuring it’s a delightful experience for current users, as well as those of the future. Ajit has years of product management experience from Square, Google, and, immediately prior to joining Mozilla, Meta, where he was responsible for monetization of WhatsApp and overseeing Meta’s business messaging platform. Earlier in his career, he was a co-founder and CEO of Adku, a venture-funded machine learning platform that was acquired by Groupon. Ajit has a BS from the University of Texas at Austin. He is based in the Bay Area. Takeaways Product and policy are now deeply intertwined in modern tech decisions Some browsers are increasingly evolving into AI-powered agents Mozilla prioritizes user choice, transparency, and choice-driven AI experiences Privacy and competition should work together, not against each other Open source and browser diversity are critical hedges against Big Tech dominance Mozilla intentionally sacrifices revenue to stay aligned with its core privacy and trust principles The future of AI depends on interoperability and low barriers to entry Chapters 00:00 Intro to Mozilla’s role in privacy and competition 00:41 Why product and policy are now inseparable 03:03 Kush’s path into law and regulation 04:49 How browsers evolved into user agents 08:26 New AI browsers and distribution strategies 09:40 Mozilla’s approach to monetization without selling data 12:14 Why privacy matters more than ever 15:15 Privacy vs competition in regulation 24:08 Mozilla’s AI strategy and avoiding dependency 27:42 What trustworthy AI actually means 31:36 Privacy-enhancing technologies and their limits 34:11 The trade-offs of privacy-first business models 40:23 Why competition and browser diversity matter 41:32 The importance of Mozilla’s Gecko engine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min

  2. 1 APR

    Episode 71. The Revisionist History of Privacy Self-Reg in the Ads Space

    Host Alan Chapell is joined by Mark Naples of WIT Strategy, where they discuss the history of self-reg in the ads space, the NAI's origins in 2000, the DAA's launch a decade later, and the rise of the cookie opt-out mechanism. They also get into AI and whether that will change the path of innovation in adtech. Find Mark Naples here https://www.witstrategy.com/mark-naples. The Chapell Regulatory Insider may be found here - https://chapellreport.substack.com/ Takeaways The DAA’s core goal was to delay, if not prevent, government regulation—and it worked Transparency was helpful, but didn’t meaningfully protect users Over the years, the focus was on regulating smaller players while Big Tech scaled unchecked Cookie-based opt-outs were flawed but persisted because they “worked” (kind of, sort of) AI is degrading critical thinking and originality in communications Innovation in ad tech has slowed significantly - will the rush to agentic speed it back up? Engagement matters more than clicks, but most marketers still don’t get it Chapters 00:00 Intro & Welcome to the Monopoly Report 02:20 Setting the Stage: Privacy, Regulation & Ad Tech 03:30 The NAI Origins & Early Industry Tensions 08:30 DoubleClick vs. Open AdStream Models 12:00 Privacy vs. Transparency: What Actually Mattered 16:30 The Birth of the DAA & Self-Regulation 22:00 Was the DAA Really a Success? 27:00 Big Tech’s Rise & Missed Warning Signs 32:00 Cookie Opt-Outs & Technical Reality 36:30 Power, Regulation & the Role of Government 41:00 AI’s Impact on PR & Media Quality 45:00 The Decline of Innovation in Ad Tech 49:00 What the Industry Should Be Talking About: Engagement 52:00 Where to Find Mark & Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    44 min

  3. 25 MAR

    Episode 70: Ad Tech at a Turning Point with Allison Schiff of AdExchanger

    Allison Schiff, Managing Editor at AdExchanger and host Alan Chapell, break down the growing tension between business incentives and ethical responsibility in the ad tech industry. The background context is the recent RFI from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.   Who within the larger ad space is willing to admit - WE are part of the problem.  Check out the Chapell Regulatory Insider at https://chapellreport.substack.com/.  Takeaway In the ad space, Incentives sometimes drive behavior more than ethics. Regulation has adjusted core practices, but hasn’t changed the mindset. Data use has a real human impact. Data flows continue to lack transparency. Reform will require multiple forces. Chapter 00:00 Introduction & Guest Background 04:09 ICE RFI & Industry Silence 08:06 Ethics & Industry Responsibility 13:34 Public Positions & Industry Response 18:13 Surveillance Advertising & Data Use 23:42 Regulation & State Laws 29:09 Privacy Challenges & Vulnerable Populations 36:48 Data Practices & Transparency 43:18 Drivers of Privacy Reform 48:06 Industry & Regulatory Challenges Ahead 52:14 Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    53 min

  4. 18 MAR

    Episode 69: Anthony Katsur, CEO at IAB Tech Lab: Navigating AI, Privacy, and Adtech’s Agentic Future

    Tony Katsur, CEO of IAB Tech Lab, joins Alan Chapell to unpack the rise of agentic AI and its impact on privacy and data governance. They explore why current approaches fall short and how the industry risks repeating past mistakes. The discussion breaks down vector embeddings and how they enable data matching without exposing raw user information. They also examine ongoing challenges around compliance, consent, and data deletion in AI-driven systems. Finally, the episode covers AI content marketplaces and how frameworks like COMP aim to bring structure, transparency, and fair compensation to publishers. The Chapell Regulatory Insider may be found here: https://chapellreport.substack.com/ Takeaways Agentic AI brings powerful automation but risks repeating past privacy failures without strong governance frameworks in place. Existing privacy standards like TCF and GPP can be embedded into agentic systems but need further evolution and enforcement. Vector embeddings enable privacy-conscious data matching by comparing similarity rather than sharing raw data. Data deletion and compliance remain unresolved challenges when user data is embedded into AI models or vectors. Audit, attestation, and accountability mechanisms are critical to prevent misuse and misrepresentation in agentic ecosystems. AI content marketplaces require structured licensing frameworks like COMP to support fair compensation and transparency. Tokenization of content could improve tracking, attribution, and source-of-truth verification for publishers and brands. The industry is still early in agentic development and must slow down to build privacy-first foundations. Chapters 00:00 Intro and discussion on agentic AI hype vs reality 01:12 Why privacy is missing from the agentic AI conversation 03:34 Challenges with DSARs and scaling privacy compliance 05:08 Existing privacy frameworks and how they apply to agentic systems 07:44 The role of privacy taxonomy and data classification 12:38 Explaining vector embeddings and privacy-safe data matching 18:30 Compliance challenges with embeddings and data transparency 24:26 Agent registry and identity verification in agentic systems 30:54 AI content marketplaces and the COMP framework 35:24 COMP vs RSL and licensing models 38:15 Content tracking, tokenization, and transparency challenges 42:48 The future of AI content marketplaces 44:38 Why industry participation in Tech Lab is critical Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    52 min

  5. 11 MAR

    Episode 68: How to Build a Privacy Program with Charm & Gravitas

    Sheila Colclasure joins host Alan Chapell to discuss some key lessons learned in a career that included significant privacy, AI and data governance roles at Acxiom and IPG. Sheila shares what inspired her to coin the term “March Fairness” as well as a few secrets on how to influence senior decision-makers on privacy and data governance issues. You can find the Chapell Regulatory Insider at https://chapellreport.substack.com/ Takeaways Sheila's journey into privacy began in 1997 at Axiom. Building a culture of privacy is essential for success. Documentation is crucial for privacy and AI governance. Words matter in privacy and AI governance discussions.. Data brokers play a vital role in the information services industry. Regulatory scrutiny on data brokers has evolved over the years. March Fairness highlights the importance of fairness in data usage. AI presents new challenges and opportunities for privacy. Understanding corporate strategy is key for privacy professionals. Sensitive data should generally be avoided in advertising use cases. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sheila Colclasure and the evolution of privacy governance. 02:00 Sheila’s privacy origin story and early work building Acxiom’s governance program. 04:20 Lessons from auditing data sources and creating ethical data sourcing standards. 09:20 Why documentation and governance discipline matter in privacy programs. 11:00 Building a digital responsibility framework across dozens of agencies at IPG. 17:30 The evolving debate around data brokers and regulatory scrutiny. 26:00 The concept of “March Fairness” and applying fairness to data governance. 30:30 AI, governance challenges, and the coming impact of quantum computing. 41:30 Career advice for privacy professionals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    48 min

  6. 4 MAR

    Episode 67: Everything’s an ad network & everyone’s a data broker

    Ben Isaacson, Founder of InHouse Privacy and longtime privacy attorney, joins the podcast to break down how California’s CPPA is reshaping the data broker landscape. From the DELETE Act and the drop mechanism to the broad definition of “sale” and “direct relationship,” Ben explains why ad tech, retail media, clean rooms, and even auto and smart TV companies may be in scope. He also shares what enforcement could look like in 2026, why smaller brokers may not survive, and the biggest misconception that continues to put companies at risk. Takeaways Ben Isaacson's journey into the privacy space began in 1995. The CCPA and CPRA have significantly influenced privacy regulations in California. Data brokers are now defined more broadly under California law. Ad tech companies must navigate complex compliance issues regarding data sharing. Retail media networks face challenges in adhering to data broker rules. Authorized agents may struggle with compliance as regulations evolve. The DELETE Act could lead to increased enforcement actions against data brokers. Misconceptions about data selling persist among companies. The future of data broker regulations may see more states adopting similar laws. Privacy by design is essential for companies to build trust with consumers. Chapters 00:00 Ben Isaacson’s privacy origin story and early internet lobbying 09:06 How CPPA enforcement is reshaping CCPA and CPRA 12:53 What California’s data broker definition really means 14:37 Why ad tech, DSPs, DMPs, and clean rooms may be in scope 17:42 Retail media networks and off platform monetization risk 26:26 The DELETE Act drop mechanism and 2026 enforcement timeline 29:02 Authorized agents and the rise of deletion services 38:06 The future of the data broker industry 41:15 The biggest misconception companies still believe about selling data Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    49 min

  7. 18 FEB

    Episode 66: AI Governance is NOT optional

    AI ethicist and governance pro Shoshana Rosenberg joins Alan Chapell to discuss how to build a framework for addressing the legal and regulatory risks involving AI. Given all the new AI and profiling rules flowing down into the ads space in 2026, Shoshana is exactly the person the ads space should be listening to right now. Pre-order Shoshana’s book “Practical AI Governance” here - www.practicalaigovernance.com Check out the Chapell Regulatory Insider here - https://chapellreport.substack.com/  Takeaways AI governance is less about compliance checklists and more about strategic oversight that prevents unseen liability. Digital agency means giving individuals context and control over how systems influence them. Post hoc explainability is insufficient because inference-driven systems are fundamentally probabilistic. Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) can undermine marketplace trust when platforms utilizing PETs aren’t transparent about how they work and don’t allow advertisers to audit them.  Government procurement standards may drive AI accountability faster than direct regulation. Building on foundational AI models requires documenting what you add and controlling what you can evidence. The PRISM framework pushes teams beyond compliance toward structured ethical practice. Too many in the ad space are ignoring data and AI governance to their detriment. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and defining AI governance  01:09 Why AI governance is about strategy, not compliance  02:41 Shoshana’s path from engineer and Navy JAG to AI governance  05:22 Digital agency as a human right  09:13 What explainability should look like in advertising  11:23 The complexity of the ad tech ecosystem  13:25 Gaps in global AI regulation  17:06 Procurement and government contracting as enforcement levers  20:49 The tension between PETs and transparency  28:02 Agentic AI and worsening accountability gaps  29:30 Explainability by design by 2029  31:42 Practical guidance for little tech building with AI  35:11 The PRISM framework explained  38:43 Upcoming book and where to find Shoshana Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min

  8. 11 FEB

    Episode 65: The Problem with Age Verification

    Alan Chapell is joined by Professor Jess Miers, visiting assistant professor of the University of Akron School of Law. Jess and Alan discuss some of the inherent challenges around protecting kids on the internet, and how those challenges are increasingly leading policymakers to age verification as the solution. While Alan is curious to see how this approach plays out in Australia, both Jess and Alan are skeptical that age verification will be good for kids or privacy in general.  Professor Miers’ Bio: https://www.uakron.edu/law/faculty/directory/profile.dot?u=jmiers  Chapell Regulatory Insider: https://chapellreport.substack.com/  Takeaways Jess Miers’ career transitioned from policy work to academia, finding a place to express her views freely. Parents face significant challenges in monitoring their children's online activities. The impact of social media on youth mental health is complex and multifaceted. More and more places worldwide are turning to age verification.  The U.S. legal landscape regarding age verification is evolving and is currently impeded due to First Amendment concerns. Advertisers must navigate a nebulous landscape regarding content directed at minors. Data privacy and security concerns are heightened with age verification requirements. Education of both parents and children is essential in addressing online safety. While these issues haven’t squarely hit the ad space just yet, Alan thinks that the post-COPPA 1.0 world will hit the ad space hard. Chapters: 00:01 Welcome + where Jess is calling from  00:36 Policy to academia + why it fits  02:07 Viral CA testimony moment  04:52 What problem age verification is trying to solve  07:03 Youth harm evidence and why causality is nuanced  10:27 Australia: under-16 ban and early consequences  13:54 Europe/UK: “age assurance,” feature limits, and gating  16:37 US: First Amendment and shifting legal strategies  22:55 Why age verification is risky: anonymity + data honeypots  44:28 Where to find Jess + wrap; transcript ends Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    48 min
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About

In-depth coverage of big tech's antitrust woes from Marketecture.tv. We are covering the Google search and ad tech trials and everything else happening. Subscribe to our newsletter at https://monopoly.marketecture.tv

Information

  • Creator
    Alan Chapell
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright (c) 2025 Marketecture Media, Inc.
  • Show Website
    The Monopoly Report

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