In an alarming development, graphic pro-Israel advertisements have found their way into children's video games, leaving young players and their parents shaken and concerned.
The ads, featuring footage of rocket attacks, explosions, and armed militants, were discovered in various gaming apps, including the popular "Angry Birds," sparking outrage and confusion among users.
Ads trigger outrage
Several European families, including children, were exposed to the same pro-Israel video ad. Maria Julia Assis, a 28-year-old mother from North London, recounted how her 6-year-old son was exposed to the disturbing content while playing a puzzle game on his Android phone.
The ad displayed footage of Hamas militants and Israeli families in distress, along with a message from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This unsettling experience prompted Assis to swiftly delete the game.
"He was shocked," Assis stated, describing her son's reaction. "He literally said, 'What is this bloody ad doing in my game?'"
Game developer's response
Rovio, the developer behind "Angry Birds," acknowledged that the disturbing ads had erroneously made their way into the game and confirmed they were being manually blocked.
However, they did not provide details regarding which ad partner had supplied the ad.
Israeli Ministry's involvement
David Saranga, the head of digital at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that the video was indeed a government-promoted ad but expressed ignorance about how it ended up in various games.
The ministry has been actively running an advocacy campaign, allocating $1.5 million to internet ads following the October 7th attack by Hamas, aiming to shed light on the events in Israel.
Saranga defended the graphic nature of the ad campaign, stating, "We want the world to understand that what happened here in Israel. It's a massacre."
The advertising firms involved
Efforts to trace the origins of the ads led to contact with 43 advertising firms listed as "third-party data partners" by Rovio. Out of these, 12 firms responded, including Amazon, Index Exchange, and Pinterest, all denying responsibility for the ad's placement in "Angry Birds."
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that they had collaborated with various ad companies, including Taboola, Outbrain, Google, and X (formerly known as Twitter). However, both Taboola and Outbrain distanced themselves from the gaming ads, and Google did not comment on the ad placements. X did not respond to inquiries.
Varying rules on advertisements
Rules governing advertisements vary by country. In the United Kingdom, where Maria Julia Assis and her son reside, the Advertising Standards Authority oversees publicity campaigns. They emphasized that any advertising with graphic content should be "carefully targeted away from under-18s."
The intrusion of graphic pro-Israel ads into children's video games has raised questions about the regulation of digital advertising, particularly when it comes to content that may not be suitable for young audiences. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges in monitoring and controlling the flow of such content in the digital age.
