Senators Decry Adtech Failures as Ads Appear On CSAM Site

1. What is the MRC’s plan to review the accreditation status of the measurement companies Integral Ad Science and DoubleVerify that have measured and/or verified advertising that has appeared on and funded a website known to host CSAM? What is MRC’s standard for reviewing or revoking an entity’s accreditation(s) where such a company fails to identify or prevent ads from appearing on known CSAM or otherwise unlawful websites? Please detail any immediate corrective actions, including reviews of certified companies and potential revocation of certifications where necessary. 
2. Have MRC-accredited vendors Integral Ad Science or DoubleVerify reported URLs containing CSAM to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) in accordance with MRC’s requirements?13 If so, how many URLs have been reported since 2021? From 2021 to 2025, how many instances did IAS and DoubleVerify specifically report imgbb.com or ibb.co to NCMEC? 
3. How has MRC responded to vendors who make false or misleading assertions or mischaracterizations about their accreditation status?
   1. What specific audits, monitoring, or oversight mechanisms does MRC employ to ensure certified companies comply with these standards? How many vendors’ accreditation status has MRC revoked for non-compliance with standards?
   2. Has MRC conducted a review of DoubleVerify’s or IAS’ accreditation status with respect to potential non-compliance? Please provide information regarding any such review that has occurred since 2021. Please provide details of the brand safety accreditation process and any audit, investigation, or review of accreditation status conducted of IAS and DoubleVerify since 2021. 
4. Why does advertising continue to be served on CSAM-hosting and other illicit websites despite the use of MRC-accredited vendors? Does this represent a shortcoming of the technology vendors or their advertiser customers?
5. Do the MRC’s guidelines speak to whether accredited vendors are permitted to maintain their revenue share or fees when they measure ads served on CSAM or other illegal websites? 
6. What additional measures is MRC considering to strengthen its certification and enforcement process and prevent similar failures in the future? 

Please provide a timeline for implementing these measures. Your cooperation and transparency are essential to safeguarding the safety of our children. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely, 

Marsha Blackburn, United States Senator

Richard Blumenthal, United States Senator

Letter to the Trustworthy Accountability Group

Dear Mr. Zaneis, 

We write to express profound concern that entities certified by the Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) have participated in the delivery of advertising, including by United States government advertisers, on a website that has been known to host child sexual abuse material (CSAM) since at least 2021, according to transparency reports released by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). The dissemination of CSAM is a heinous crime that inflicts irreparable harm on its victims. When digital advertisers place content on websites that are known to host such activity, they have in effect created a funding stream that perpetuates criminal operations and irreparable harm to our children We urge your organization to strengthen and adequately enforce its standards so accredited vendors are no longer allowed to support the funding of CSAM and other illegal websites.

TAG’s actions here—or at best, inaction—have raised several concerns. First, advertisers have unwittingly advertised on a website known to host CSAM, despite working with advertising technology vendors accredited by TAG for “brand safety.” TAG’s “Brand Safety Certified” Guidelines identify a “floor” for content that is prohibited from receiving advertising. This “floor” includes “Crime & Harmful Acts to Individuals and Society and Human Right Violations” and “Adult & Explicit Sexual Content.” Nevertheless, reporting indicates that at least nine TAGcertified vendors participated in the placement of advertising on imgbb.com—a website that has been known to host CSAM since 2021.