3 ms·

Shill bidding is illegal in auctions. They've represented these ad markets as auctions, but it seems like they aren't. You're bidding against some machine desig

• URSpider94 6y ago
  One possibility: Google creates a fully independent subsidiary that bids on AdSense auctions with a goal of turning a profit by reselling the slots they buy. This might make sense if Google sees large inefficiencies in the ad market that are being taken advantage of by third party resellers, at the expense of their customers. It’s not a great look, but it could be done in a way that is aboveboard from a legal standpoint.
  • luckylion 6y ago
    That was the idea, wasn't it? Only they didn't make it independent, but gave it access to data that they didn't give to external bidders, because it would be less efficient (read: less profitable) if it had to act on public information.