Creepy data grab and how to make it stop

March 24, 2025

By Kim Komando

This is the kind of thing that makes you wish flip phones were still a thing. The world has moved from marketing to digital profiling. We are being tracked like never before.

Advertising giant Publicis Groupe just released a video bragging that its CoreAI platform tracks a staggering 91% of all adult internet users. Yes, that probably includes you, me and everyone we know.

In the clip, they introduce “Lola.” CoreAI knows:

• What she watches and when
• Everything she purchases
• How inflation affects her shopping choices
• Where she shops in person and online
• What ads she’s seen
• Who she follows on social media
• When she’s vulnerable to switching to a cheaper brand
• Her medical issues

They’re not guessing. This is based on real-world tracking across phones, smart TVs, loyalty cards, public records, app data, cookies and more. 

🕵️‍♀️ You agreed to this

Companies like Publicis, Acxiom and Epsilon aren’t names you see on your apps. They’re behind the curtain, collecting everything they can from:

• Apps you install (especially free ones)
• Websites you visit
• Smart devices in your home
• Retail purchases and loyalty programs
• Location data from your phone
• Even your connected car’s infotainment system

🔐 What you can do about it

Start kicking creeps out of your data trail. PSA: It’s work.

• Review and clear your Google activity history. Google logs every search, site visit, voice command and more.
• Turn off ad personalization on Google, Facebook, Amazon and Instagram. These platforms track you to build ad profiles. Check these settings monthly, they often reset.
• Don’t link your accounts. Logging in with Google or Facebook sounds convenient, but it gives companies more data than you realize.
• Check app permissions. You’d be surprised how many apps have access to your location, contacts, microphone or SMS history.
• Limit location tracking. Disable “precise location” for apps that don’t need it, especially shopping apps, weather apps and games.

🛑   Publicis isn’t just buying data 

They’re weaponizing it. With AI, they’re turning what data brokers collect into scarily precise digital profiles. Then they sell it to advertisers, marketers, government agencies and players you’d never want near your personal info.

This is why I encourage you to check out Incogni. It’s a smart tool that acts as your legal representative, sending removal requests to data brokers and people-search sites on your behalf.

I use it myself and love it. They’ve removed me from over 1,110 companies. They also add you to a suppression list, so your personal data stays off those sites moving forward.

You get a dashboard to track progress, and it works quietly in the background while you get your privacy back.✅ I’ve got a 60% off deal for you. Just use my link to learn how Incogni protects you and cleans up your digital footprint. The less of your info floating around online, the fewer scam texts, robocalls and junk emails you’ll get, too. You need this!