Groups raise alarm over Malaysian media firm's use of Israeli ads platform

The Malaysian chapter of the global anti-Zionist movement Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) has warned of potential privacy, cybersecurity and data governance risks arising from a Malaysian media group's use of an Israeli advertising company whose leadership has strong links with the Zionist state's military and spying network.

BDS Malaysia and more than 20 groups have urged REV Media, a subsidiary of media conglomerate Media Prima, to explain its use of the Taboola platform.

They cite information obtained from Taboola’s website stating that REV Media is now using Taboola’s Realize platform and has integrated Taboola’s Pixel to track and analyse user behaviour and improve advertising targeting.

“That foreign technology company, Taboola, whose founder and CEO is also a board director, has a documented background in an advanced IDF cyber unit, alongside a senior executive with a documented background in an IDF intelligence unit,” said BDS Malaysia in a statement signed by 22 other organisations.

“There is therefore a basis to ask whether appropriate privacy, cybersecurity, data governance and national-interest assessments have been undertaken before a technology relationship with Taboola was embedded within REV Media’s digital publishing infrastructure.”

They said that in March, REV Media, which integrates digital products into the Media Prima-owned New Straits Times portal, had given assurances that it would not engage with entities linked to Israel.

“However, as publicised by Taboola’s own website, we note that REV Media is now using Taboola’s Realize platform and has integrated Taboola’s Pixel to track and analyse user behaviour and improve advertising targeting.”

In their joint statement, the groups raised questions over whether adequate privacy, cybersecurity, data governance and national-interest assessments had been carried out before Taboola's technology was embedded.

“Where is Malaysian user data stored and processed? Which Taboola entities, subcontractors or other third parties can access the information? Are any Malaysian data sets transferred outside Malaysia, and what safeguards govern those transfers?” they asked.

They also questioned whether Media Prima or REV Media had carried out “security, privacy or national-interest assessments” of their relationship with Taboola.

“Given Taboola’s senior leadership backgrounds in Israeli military cyber and intelligence units, have any additional governance or security safeguards been considered appropriate?”

MalaysiaNow has contacted REV Media for a response.