On: How The Pentagon learned to use targeted ads to find its targets

[smcin]

Useful to gives dates. Swichkow's prank ad mentioned above was back in 2014.

I think you're referring to Facebook/Meta removing many detailed PII-specific targeting options, 1/2022.

[andirk → smcin]

Year was mid 2008. Targeted via geo, gender, and then finally interests. It got down to like "less than 100" which I think was more like 1. She lived in a rural area which probably made it easier.

[dhosek → smcin]

That said, the prank still works if you can get your targeted ad in front of the victim even if it also goes to unconnected recipients as well.