[DamnYuppie]

That maybe true but in my opinion is a lesser evil compared to the corruption of government officials who are complicit in allowing this to happen. What is the point of government agencies if all they do is bow to those with the most money?

[pyrale]

Ad exchanges are not a regulated activity like stock exchange is. That means there is no SEC equivalent for Google's ad market activity.

[pas]

FTC has some oversight authority, no?

[pyrale]

Technically, yes, but the FTC is not geared to enforce financial market rules. Searching FTC rulings on ad exchanges, I found one example of a settlement in a COPPA case.

[danaris]

Implied by your question is the suggestion that the solution is just to abolish government agencies entirely, thus leaving people with no recourse against massive megacorporations, as opposed to trying to fix the problem in some meaningful way.

It's certainly true that there are problems with the current implementation of the mechanics of our government, but the idea that throwing them out entirely would leave us with something better just doesn't pass the sniff test.

[mandmandam]

> What is the point of government agencies if all they do is bow to those with the most money?

To legitimize the transfer of wealth upward, and protect the system. "Sure didn't we all vote for Trump/Biden". "If you're not voting you can't complain". Etc.

From housing to banking to the environment to food and drugs; from healthcare to the military, there is no shortage of examples of revolving doors, veneers, and gaslighting to choose from.

The fact that Obama promoted GS people to positions all over his cabinet after the '08 bailouts should have clued in anyone with more than 8 brain cells. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/12/henhouse-meet-f...