A cancer patient who searched online for support about his disease was left horrified when Facebook began placing advertisement for funeral directors on his Facebook feed . Daniel Kapp , 46 , was diagnosed with prostate cancer last month . Shortly after he used the web to learn more about the illness . When he opened Facebook the following day he said he was 'bombarded ' with 'insensitive ' promotions that he could n't remove . Daniel Kapp , 46 , was diagnosed with prostate cancer last month and used the web to learn more about the illness . But when he opened Facebook the following day he said he was 'bombarded ' with 'insensitive and tasteless ' adverts for funeral directors . The consultant also tweeted about his surprise ( shown ) The adverts included promotions for funeral directors , including one called Bestattung Himmelblau Wien - which translates to Funeral Vienna Sky Blue . It showed an elderly couple with the tagline : 'Wir helfen Ihnen gerne ! ' or 'We 're here to help . ' Mr Kapp ( pictured ) is a strategic consultant in Austria . He described the Facebook adverts as 'scandalous ' ' I was just knocked off my feet to see that there on the screen , ' said Mr Kapp , who works as a strategic consultant in Austria . 'It is just completely insensitive . And every time I tried to delete it , it appeared again . ' He blamed Facebook for monitoring the data about the searches he had done and then using it in order to sell it on to potential advertisers . The consultant also tweeted about his surprise : 'After going public on having cancer via FB I 've started getting sponsored ads for funeral parlours # wtf # epicfail [ sic ] ' ' I think it 's just tasteless and scandalous , ' Mr Kapp continued . 'But it seems that anyone who is looking for information under the string search 'life expectancy ' or 'cancer ' on Google can then expect to get inappropriate adverts on social networks . ' When contacted by local media , the directors of the funeral companies said they were shocked their adverts were being used to target people in this way . One said : ' I can confirm that this should never have happened . ' Facebook uses cookies to track its users - both on and off the site - and deliver relevant adverts . The adverts included promotions for funeral directors including one for Bestattung Himmelblau Wien - which translates to Funeral Vienna Sky Blue ( pictured ) . When contacted by local media the directors of the funeral companies said they were shocked their adverts were being used to target people in this way . It gathers information about devices , sites people visit , searches they 've made and demographic data they have entered into their account on the social network . Initially these cookies were just used on the site , but in September Facebook launched its Atlas ad platform that monitors these movements around the wider web . Facebook uses cookies to track its users - both on and off the site - and deliver relevant adverts . It gathers information about devices , sites people visit , searches they 've made and demographic data they have entered into their account on the social network . Initially these cookies were just used on the site , but in September Facebook launched its Atlas ad platform that monitors these movements around the wider web . This only works if the account holder is logged into Facebook on the browser being used , but they do n't have to necessarily be actively using it . Adverts are then shown on the site , and vice versa around the web . Individual ads can be removed or managed by clicking an arrow in the top right-hand corner . Or people can opt out of them from the Digital Advertising Alliance in the USA , Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada or the European Digital Advertising Alliance . This only works if the account holder is logged into Facebook on the browser being used , but they do n't have to necessarily be actively using it . Adverts are then shown on the site , and vice-versa around the internet . Today Facebook added a new tool called Topic Data that now additionally scans what people are 'saying about events , brands , subjects and activities . ' The site stressed that no personal information is revealed because topic data is anonymised , and it is used to provide 'guidance for marketers ' and not used target ads directly . Facebook explained : 'We use cookies so we , or our affiliates and partners , can serve you ads that may be interesting to you on Facebook Services or other websites and mobile applications . 'We also may use cookies to provide advertisers with insights about the people who see and interact with their ads , visit their websites , and use their apps . ' Individual adverts can be removed or managed in the Settings menu , or by clicking the arrow in the top right-hand corner of an advert . Or people can opt out of them from the Digital Advertising Alliance in the USA , Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada or the European Digital Advertising Alliance . Facebook has not yet responded to MailOnline 's request to comment on Mr Kapp 's complaints . Facebook uses cookies to track its users - both on and off the site - and deliver relevant adverts . Individual adverts can be managed in Settings ( pictured ) . Or people can opt out of them from the Digital Advertising Alliance in the USA , Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada or the European Digital Advertising Alliance .
Daniel Kapp , 46 , was diagnosed with cancer last month . Following the news he used the web to learn more about the illness . He was then shown 'insensitive and tasteless ' ads for funeral directors . The consultant said he tried to remove the ads but they kept appearing . And the funeral directors said it was shocked its adverts were being used to target people in this way . Facebook tracks its users movements around the web using cookies . These are used to serve relevant ads but only work if a user is logged in . Facebook has not yet responded to MailOnline 's request for comment .