Introducing Claire Atkin, a Digital Activist
Meet Claire Atkin, a superhero in the digital world. As a brand safety advocate, Atkins sets out to defund the “bad guys” on the internet that spread hate speech and fake news. Claire is the co-founder and CEO of Check My Ads, ad tech’s first watchdog. As a female co-founder in the tech industry, she acts as a powerful statement.
Check My Ads is a nonprofit organization that tackles issues of digital ads inadvertently funding racism, hate, and disinformation globally. The organization cuts funding to harmful outlets, taking swings at “fake news”. Check My Ads is the solution to any journalist’s worst nightmare.
Claire sets out to hold the surveillance ad tech industry accountable for their abuses against advertisers and consumers. Her work intersects economics, digital marketing, media, and disinformation. She is the advisor to Fortune 500 brands, government officials, journalists, and industry leaders.
Photo by Jon McMorran
To understand just what Claire does a little more I asked her a few questions!
Can you tell us what exactly Check My Ads does?
Our job is to make the internet a safer place, where companies can do business and people can connect with one another without fear of being scammed or harassed. Check My Ads is a non profit watchdog organization that helps advertisers take back control of their ads, and helps consumers figure out why things like why we are so polarized now, and why its so much easier to get scammed than it used to be. The answer is because the internet adtech industry is running amok.
How does it feel to be a female in the technology industry?
The tech industry is about ten percent women. The one thing that has been a helpful for me is that I have had really incredible mentors. I value these leaders so much, and have strived to build our company with the same sense of collaboration and respect that I have received in the best work relationships in my life.
What message do you want to send to any girls wanting to get involved in the industry?
I have a lot to say about this! Each woman entering this industry will have a different set of opportunities and challenges to navigate, so I hesitate to be prescriptive. The one thing I will say is that the tech industry is very powerful — it controls the internet, and many corners of our world that most people don’t think about day to day. We need far more women in tech, and far more people making sure that tech companies are actually delivering what we need. I welcome any new women leaders to this space.
Want to learn more about Check My Ads and Claire Atkins? Visit CheckMyAds.org.
