DIRECT lines inconsistent with public data
50 −25 ptsThe ads.txt specification defines DIRECT as an account the publisher directly controls. For these lines, either the ad system's own sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY, or the same account is marked DIRECT in the files of 3 or more unrelated companies. Either way, the public data does not support the DIRECT label. Buyers that use DIRECT labels in supply-path decisions may treat these lines differently.
How to fixUse DIRECT only for accounts your company controls. Confirm with each partner whether the account is yours; if it isn't, the specification calls for RESELLER.
Evidence (25 of 50)
line 5 facebook.com, 1489814867947847, DIRECT, c3e20eee3f780d68
→ observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 3 different companies
line 228 themediagrid.com, FALINO, DIRECT, 35d5010d7789b49d
→ observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 105 different companies name in sellers.json: Luna Media Group LLC domain in sellers.json: lunamedia.io
line 244 algorix.co, 54318, DIRECT, 5b394c12fea27a1d
→ observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 3 different companies name in sellers.json: Meitu domain in sellers.json: beautyplus.com
line 434 admanmedia.com, 990, DIRECT
→ observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 8 different companies name in sellers.json: Click Tech Limited - Zmaticoo domain in sellers.json: zmaticoo.com
line 463 lijit.com, 517272, DIRECT, fafdf38b16bf6b2b
→ observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 27 different companies name in sellers.json: zMaticoo domain in sellers.json: zmaticoo.com
line 494 start.io, 150505487, DIRECT
→ observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 23 different companies name in sellers.json: zMaticoo.com domain in sellers.json: zmaticoo.com
line 879 rubiconproject.com, 28425, DIRECT, 0bfd66d529a55807
→ observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY name in sellers.json: Branch Metrics, Inc. domain in sellers.json: branchdiscovery.io
line 887 programmaticx.ai, 100682, DIRECT, b42d42eb28400efa
→ observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 40 different companies name in sellers.json: falcongames domain in sellers.json: falcongames.com
line 888 targetbetter.com, 6481, DIRECT
→ observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 40 different companies name in sellers.json: fugo domain in sellers.json: fugo.com.tr
line 891 themediagrid.com, VM75KS, DIRECT, 35d5010d7789b49d
→ observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 49 different companies name in sellers.json: Copper6 Ltd domain in sellers.json: copper6.com
line 892 start.io, 139527569, DIRECT
→ observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 49 different companies name in sellers.json: Bigo domain in sellers.json: bigo.tv
line 893 rubiconproject.com, 24400, DIRECT, 0bfd66d529a55807
→ observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 71 different companies name in sellers.json: start.io Inc domain in sellers.json: start.io
line 894 themediagrid.com, FWN84J, DIRECT, 35d5010d7789b49d
→ observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 77 different companies name in sellers.json: Start.io Inc domain in sellers.json: start.io
line 895 taboola.com, 1618213, DIRECT, c228e6794e811952
→ observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 52 different companies
line 896 admanmedia.com, 2269, DIRECT
→ observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 55 different companies name in sellers.json: Bigo domain in sellers.json: bigo.sg
line 898 yabbi.me, 675d9254-4032-47ed-9074-b6ef4dbab522, DIRECT
→ observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 68 different companies
line 899 madex.world, 544b4c02-bccb-47eb-a8c2-0a6be081778b, DIRECT
→ observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 68 different companies name in sellers.json: Madex domain in sellers.json: madex.world
line 900 thebrave.io, 1234764, DIRECT, c25b2154543746ac
→ observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 70 different companies name in sellers.json: bigo domain in sellers.json: bigo.sg
line 902 oko.uk, a4eb11dd-9bc5-4d77-9877-71f69dcfc08f, DIRECT, b3511ffcafb23a32
→ observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 46 different companies
line 906 admatic.de, ade-pub-4967241771, DIRECT, uufps1dh5stc6euk
→ observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 44 different companies
line 909 google.com, pub-3990748024667386, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
→ observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 85 different companies
line 912 themediagrid.com, NC7LXT, DIRECT, 35d5010d7789b49d
→ observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 45 different companies name in sellers.json: THUNDER MONETIZATION PTE. LTD. domain in sellers.json: thunder-monetize.com
line 913 criteo.com, B-081657, DIRECT, 9fac4a4a87c2a44f
→ observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 44 different companies
line 918 rubiconproject.com, 15268, DIRECT, 0bfd66d529a55807
→ observed: sellers.json lists the account as INTERMEDIARY; the same account is marked DIRECT by 112 different companies name in sellers.json: Unruly Group LTD domain in sellers.json: unrulymedia.com
line 919 pubnative.net, 1008060, DIRECT, d641df8625486a7b
→ observed: the same account is marked DIRECT by 57 different companies name in sellers.json: MELODONG LIMITED domain in sellers.json: melodong.com