This policy explains what information SmartNews collects through its advertising delivery service, "SmartNews Ads," and how that information is used and shared. For information regarding the collection and use of data related to the news service "SmartNews," please refer to the separate privacy policy for users.

Types of Information Collected

Information Related to Ad Delivery

SmartNews collects various types of information related to ad delivery through SmartNews Ads. The collected information includes, but is not limited to: • Account information (such as advertising product categories, brand information, advertising format) • Information on ad delivery (including creatives such as images, videos, texts, audience targeting settings, budget, bid settings) • User interaction data with ads (such as impressions, video views, clicks, and conversions) • Information on delivery performance (e.g., CPA)

Information Collected Through SmartNews’ Ad Tracking Features

If advertisers or agencies use tracking features provided by SmartNews to measure ad effectiveness, SmartNews collects related information, including the date, time, URL, and other user-level data such as device identifiers and anonymized browsing patterns. The tracking features provided by SmartNews include, but are not limited to: • Pixel Tags • Web Conversion Tags • Conversion API

Information Provided by Advertisers from Third-Party Ad Measurement Tools

When advertisers or agencies integrate third-party ad measurement tools with SmartNews servers for purposes such as measuring ad effectiveness or optimizing ad delivery, SmartNews collects various types of information. The collected information includes, but is not limited to: • Click events • Postback events such as installs • Custom events like launch, session, and payment

Note: The information transmitted to SmartNews is controlled by the advertiser or agency. Advertisers are responsible for ensuring that any data shared through third-party tools complies with applicable privacy laws, such as CCPA

Information Provided by Advertisers via the Management Console, and Information Collected by SmartNews

When advertisers or agencies directly upload information such as IDFA/Google Advertising ID/email addresses via the management console provided by SmartNews, SmartNews processes that information. Unless otherwise agreed upon separately with the advertiser or agency, SmartNews uses this information without linking it to personally identifiable information. SmartNews also collects anonymized data on the use of the management console by advertisers and agencies.

Information Provided by Other Third Parties

SmartNews may receive information from third parties.

Purpose of Use of Collected Information

Provision, Improvement, and Development of SmartNews Ads Delivery Algorithm

SmartNews uses this information to optimize the ad delivery algorithm. The scope of information used for optimization is not limited to the specific ad campaign in question but is also used for overall system optimization and future ad delivery.

Provision, Improvement, and Development of Services Other Than SmartNews Ads

SmartNews may use this information to improve services other than its ad delivery services. For example, it may analyze user activity trends related to ads and use those insights to improve the article delivery algorithm in the "SmartNews" news app. SmartNews may use Google Analytics to analyze anonymized data across both ad delivery and content-related services to improve user experience and optimize advertising strategies. For more details on Google Analytics, please refer to Google Analytics Terms of Service and Google's Privacy Policy.

Use as Ad Creative Material

SmartNews may use some of this information as ad creative material. For example, a function that displays the latest review scores from the app store in an app advertisement falls under this category.

Provision, Improvement, and Development of Ad Delivery Services to External Ad Networks Connected to SmartNews

When SmartNews connects SmartNews Ads to external ad networks or integrates external networks with SmartNews’s media, SmartNews uses collected information for optimization of ad delivery algorithms related to that integration.

Ensuring Security and Safety

SmartNews uses collected data to verify legitimate user activity, detect potential fraud through machine learning algorithms, and ensure the safety and integrity of its ad delivery systems.

Changes to the Policy

SmartNews will update this policy as needed to reflect service improvements and feature developments. When significant changes that may affect advertisers are made, SmartNews will notify advertisers or their agencies in advance or promptly after the changes are implemented.

Contact Information

For inquiries regarding this matter, please contact us through the following inquiry form: https://smartnews-ads.zendesk.com/hc/ja/requests/new

Additional Provisions Regarding the Provision of "SmartNews for docomo" (This following provision applies only to customers using the JP Region)

SmartNews provides the news service "SmartNews for docomo" ("SFD") in collaboration with NTT DOCOMO, INC. ("NTT docomo"). Our advertising delivery service, "SmartNews Ads," will be operated independently from SFD, and the following types of information related to advertising delivery will not be shared with NTT docomo:

• Information related to ad configurations (advertising account name, budget, bid settings, targeting settings, creative details, etc.) • Information collected through Pixel Tags, Web Conversion Tags, Conversion API, and third-party advertising measurement tools • Custom audience information

Additionally, SmartNews may share some information regarding users' interactions with ads within the app (such as impressions, clicks, video views, etc.) with NTT docomo, the distributor of the SFD app. However, in such cases, only domain information of the advertisement landing page URLs will be shared, and information at or below the subdirectory level will not be shared.

Revised November 19, 2024