Apple to Target Ads Based on Consumer’s Credit Report

Apple to Target Ads Based on Consumer’s Credit Report

LOS ANGELES — Today’s online advertising ecosystem is predicated on many consumer demographic and psychographic factors, a process that Apple is taking a step further via financial health analysis.

Media buyers know that the more closely you target your audience, the more money you can make — with factors such as the prospect’s age, location, sex, user platform and more, all coming into play — even time of day and day of week are all selectable parameters on modern digital advertising networks.

Now Apple is adding perhaps the most basic market question to the equation: can the ad’s viewer even afford the product or service being offered?

Apple recently filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a “method and system for targeted advertising of goods and services to users of mobile terminals, based for example on the users’ profile.”

“Goods and services are marketed to particular target groups of users sharing a common profile which may be selected to increase the likelihood of the users responding to the advertisements and purchasing the advertised goods and services. The common profile of users may be based on the amount of pre-paid credit available to each user,” the Apple filing explains. “An advantage of such targeted advertising is that only advertisements for goods and services which particular users can afford, are delivered to these users.”

Critics of the process argue that Apple is invading their privacy by running credit reports on consumers as part of the ad serving process — and potentially putting your personal information at serious risk.

“They’re gobbling up everything they can learn about you and trying to monetize it,” Theo Priestley wrote for Forbes.com. “Apple is absolutely targeting your wallet and how you spend your money.”

Traditional print advertisers have long targeted consumers based on perceived financial level through their choices of ad venues, but Apple is taking it to a troubling new level, where the determination is not based on the probability that, for example, the reader of a high-brow magazine is well-to-do; but where the decision is made based on access to a person’s most sensitive personal information.

While there are few adult entertainment applications where basic affordability comes into play, Apple’s move illustrates the granular level of as targeting to which modern advertisers, adult or otherwise, are striving to achieve, providing inspiration and revenue to marketers.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Michigan Legislators Propose Online Porn Ban

Michigan lawmakers have introduced a bill that would make it illegal to distribute pornography via the internet in the state.

Florida AG Sues Aylo, Segpay Over State AV Law

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed lawsuits against Aylo and Segpay today with the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida for noncompliance with HB3, the state's age verification law.

Colombian Court Sides with Esperanza Goméz in Meta Account Deactivation Battle

On Friday, Colombia’s Constitutional Court ruled in favor of adult performer Esperanza Gómez in her legal battle against Meta over repeated suspensions of her Instagram account.

Missouri AG Announces Age Verification Rule to Take Effect Nov. 30

Newly appointed Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced Friday that the state's recently approved age verification regulation for adult websites will go into effect on Nov. 30.

Aylo, Woodhull Freedom Foundation to Host 'Online Censorship' Event

Aylo and Woodhull Freedom Foundation will co-host a virtual panel addressing online censorship on Sept. 30.

Severe Sex Films Relaunches Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Severe Sex Films has relaunched its official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Judge Awards Plaintiffs Over $400K in Attorneys Fees in Derek Hay Civil Case

California Superior Court Judge Gail Killefer has awarded former clients of LA Direct Models over $400,000 in attorneys fees and court costs, to be paid by agency founder Derek Hay.

ChickPass Rebrands as 'ChickPass Cinematic Universe'

ChickPass has announced that it has rebranded its network of sites as ChickPass Cinematic Universe.

Brazilian Adult Industry Association ABIPEA Launches

Brazilian Association of the Adult Entertainment Industry and Professionals (ABIPEA) has officially launched its organization.

New Adult Social Media Platform 'Havven' Opens Beta Phase

Havven, a new adult social media platform, has opened its beta phase and will officially launch Oct. 5.

Show More