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I worked in an Ad-tech start-up in Berlin run by two of the most evil f*kers I've ever encountered. I built out their principal ad auction algorithm and a lot o
by Simon_O_Rourke 4y ago
I worked in an Ad-tech start-up in Berlin run by two of the most evil f*kers I've ever encountered. I built out their principal ad auction algorithm and a lot of the back-end to support it, and all they did with it was target vulnerable groups of people at particular times of the week when they thought they were at their lowest ebb.
One meeting in particular really stands out still, a social media giant that everyone knows was in town meeting the founders to sell additional personalization data. Before that meeting, I thought things the start-up were doing were a bit sketchy, maybe borderline unethical. During the meeting itself, it was more like sitting around a table with Dr. Evil and a few henchmen. They were actively, unambiguously picking vulnerable groups for ad re-targeting. And that's not even the worst of it, the meeting wraps up and one of the founders says "OK guys, let's go get some beers and bring some girls". Then this despicable excuse for a man promptly walked out into the office, points at a few female employees and says "You, you and you, come with us now".
- HellsMaddy 4y agoName and shame.
- danuker 4y agoWhat were the vulnerable groups? But it's ok if you don't want to answer.
- Uptrenda 4y agoThis is like something from a movie. You write really well, by the way. You could easily write a book if you wanted to.
- VoodooJuJu 4y ago>"OK guys, let's go get some beers and bring some girls". Then this despicable excuse for a man promptly walked out into the office, points at a few female employees and says "You, you and you, come with us now". And did everyone clap?
- haxiomic 4y agoThank you for sharing I hope this is a message that gets through to young devs. If someone is hiring you, you'll be making them more money than you cost. When you interview with someone, you're interviewing them too. You get a choice in who you make rich the more we make cruel people wealthy the more power they have to damage our society
- agtech_andy 4y agoI worked at a fintech and it was obvious that some of our users had serious issues with gambling/game spending. Like so bad that they would run out of money regularly before their next paycheck. This fintech didn't exploit them, but it was very obvious how this data could have been used to exploit them and other addicts.