Targeted ads require tracking and profiling users. That profiling is usually of poor quality. I've actually never seen a targeted ad that interests me, they are

Targeted ads require tracking and profiling users. That profiling is usually of poor quality. I've actually never seen a targeted ad that interests me, they are usually just trying to sell me something I've already looked at or even bought (re-targeting). From an advertiser standpoint I'm pretty certain that they are an absolute waste of money. In G̶e̶r̶m̶a̶n̶y̶ the Netherlands (following the GDRP) some publishers have switched to the old model of direct-sold ads where advertisers bid on placement next to relevant content instead of bidding on users. That has increased publisher ad revenue and those ads actually get more clicks.