I use Podcast Addict and have recently noticed location-based ads in my podcasts. Adds that are local to my large town / small city. The app doesn’t have location permissions, so how are the podcasts embedding localized ads?
Unless you’re using a VPN, they can get close with your IP address
Thank you for this. It made me realize that my VPN had become disabled…
In addition to this comment, here is a Wiki section discussing the methods of geolocating: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_geolocation#Data_sources. It is important to note that a VPN isn’t the only way to alter an IP address. It is currently the most viable and safe way. You can use a proxy server or a tor browser (depending on the node) as alternatives.
You may not have given them location data to that app in particular but your devise probably has an advertising id which has tied you to a location for other services.
You can use ip geolocation yourself, a free site is infosniper.net
Thank you, this helped me realize that my VPN had become disabled…
