Cybersecurity researchers from TrendAI, a division of Trend Micro, identified that the Israeli ad-tech firm Discover-Tech allegedly uses digital advertising systems to track SpaceX Starlink users globally. The investigation suggests the company exploits real-time bidding mechanisms to collect sensitive user data, including geolocation, across more than 100 countries.
The activity is particularly notable in conflict zones and sanctioned regions, including Syria, Libya, Yemen, South Sudan, and Afghanistan, where Discover-Tech emerged as a dominant bidder. Researchers argue that the firm's bidding patterns in these areas deviate significantly from standard commercial advertising practices, indicating potential use for surveillance rather than product promotion.
Following the publication of reports by Citizen Lab and Confiant, major platforms including Google and Comcast have removed Discover-Tech from their advertising networks. Additionally, several international organizations and US technology companies have launched internal investigations to determine if their employees were targeted by the firm's advertising campaigns.
TrendAI initially referred to the entity as Shadow-Earth-79 in its October 15 report to mitigate legal risks and attribution errors. However, six sources confirmed that the entity is Discover-Tech. The company and its CEO, Decker Boni, have not responded to requests for comment, and SpaceX has not issued a statement regarding the findings.
