An Israeli advertising technology company, Discover-Tech, allegedly targeted users of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service across more than 100 countries, potentially to track their locations and monitor their online activities, according to a Reuters report published on October 27, 2026.
Researchers at TrendAI, a unit of Tokyo-based cybersecurity company Trend Micro, identified suspicious advertising patterns that suggested the company was using digital advertising infrastructure for surveillance rather than conventional commercial purposes. Six people familiar with the investigation shared details of the findings with Reuters.
TrendAI researchers found that Israeli advertising technology firm Discover-Tech was among the biggest buyers of digital advertising space on Starlink traffic, reportedly leading bids in more than 100 countries, including territories where the service is banned or restricted.
Researchers suspected the advertising auction system could expose user information, potentially enabling identification, location tracking and surveillance. SpaceX, Discover-Tech and its chief executive did not respond to requests for comment.
In an October 15 report, TrendAI referred to the company as “Shadow-Earth-79”. Six sources told Reuters the codename identified Discover-Tech. TrendAI said its attribution process aimed to minimise errors and misleading conclusions.
On October 15, Canadian cybersecurity research group Citizen Lab and New York-based advertising security firm Confiant separately identified Discover-Tech by name, following TrendAI’s report on suspicious advertising activity.
Both groups alleged that the company exploited digital advertising auctions, which can expose user information to advertisers. When combined with other data, this information could help identify individuals, track online activities and potentially target them with surveillance software.
Their investigations found Discover-Tech advertisements across dozens of sensitive networks linked to media organisations, governments and technology companies. Following the investigations, Google, Comcast and other companies removed Discover-Tech from their advertising platforms.
According to people familiar with the matter, at least one major US technology company and one international organisation also launched internal investigations into whether the advertisements had targeted their employees.
Unusual bidding patterns raised concerns about the company's activities in countries where legitimate demand for Western advertising was expected to be limited.
According to the report, Shadow-Earth-79 was the leading advertising buyer in Syria, Libya, Yemen and South Sudan, and ranked second in Afghanistan. It also secured an unusually dominant share of advertising bids in countries including Hungary, Israel, Egypt, Azerbaijan and Venezuela.
Researchers reportedly believed Discover-Tech was responsible for the activity and discussed naming the company in their report. However, five sources told Reuters that the idea was dropped after TrendAI executives raised legal concerns.
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The findings come amid growing efforts by governments to monitor Starlink users. The satellite internet service routes data through SpaceX-operated satellites rather than nationally regulated telecommunications networks, allowing it to bypass certain local internet restrictions and support communications in conflict zones.
Starlink has become particularly important in Ukraine, where the military relies on the service for frontline communications and coordinating drone strikes.
In May, Israeli newspaper Haaretz and website Intelligence Online separately reported that Israeli-owned businesses were offering clients ways to identify and track Starlink users, with advertising data reportedly playing a key role.
The latest allegations highlight concerns about how digital advertising infrastructure could potentially be repurposed for surveillance, particularly when satellite internet services operate in politically sensitive regions and active conflict zones.