In the world of online advertising, things are rarely as they seem. An investigation by The Times has found that advertisements for brands and charities such as Mercedes-Benz, Waitrose and Marie Curie are appearing on the websites and YouTube videos of hate groups and jihadist fanatics, including supporters of Islamic State. That means dozens of companies and voluntary organisations may have unwittingly funded extremists. The practices of the digital marketing industry, which is dominated by a few powerful media agencies alleged to have fattened their margins at clients’ expense, are largely to blame.
The digital advertising market has exploded in recent years, doubling in value between 2012 and 2016. Experts predict it will overtake the market for TV commercials by 2020. Traditional media are in