we collect the information that you provide by entering it into certain Service features. For example, when you want to post in a forum, you provide us the content for the post (which could contain PI which we collect and then display for you on the forum). Likewise, when you use other features such as voice or text messaging, blogs, surveys, user-generated content, activity streams, or social media, we may first collect the information you enter into the feature.
We may also automatically or passively collect information about your use of our Services, see the sub-sections below for a list of categories by sources of such information.
Each time you use a PlayStation console or a PlayStation app on a PlayStation console or other devices (such as a mobile phone or PC), we may automatically collect information about your use of that device and app. If you sign into an Account, we may combine it with other information we have for that Account.
The information that we collect from devices may include: Device identifiers such as your PlayStation console ID, mobile device IDs, cookie IDs, or serial numbers, Network identifiers such as your IP address and MAC address
We may receive information, including the following, from third party sources and combine it with information we already directly collect from you. We will handle the information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Game, social media, or other information, from those third parties or services you link your Account with
Marketing and Advertising: We may target and personalize our marketing communications, purchase recommendations and advertisements that we display on our and third-party websites and services based on the information we have collected about you.
The list just goes on here, but to boil it down: Sony wants dat sweet sweet data.
Still barking, dog?
If the largest console gaming platform was selling user data to advertisers, you'd think that at least one of the many guides trying to solicit marketers to give a shit about targeting gamers would be mentioning it as a resource, no?
Tell you what - you are so big on evidence, why don't you find a single mention of being able to target PSN users on any ad network off the console in any case study, article, media buyer award submission, or pretty much anywhere to date and I'll cede the point to you.
Here's a few places to start looking:
https://blog.twitchmetrics.net/the-art-of-video-game-marketing-strategies-and-real-world-examples/
https://integralads.com/converting-gamers-to-consumers-research/
https://www.warroominc.com/institute-library/blog/why-marketers-should-consider-targeting-gamers/
https://www.datazn.ai/blog/gamer-advertising
https://www.adweek.com/?s=PlayStation
https://adage.com/results?search_phrase=PlayStation
These should start to give you an idea of what tools marketers actually have at their disposal to target console gamers, and just how often or not industry press discusses the platform.
Edit: It's so bizarre users immediately downvote the information pointing out they are wrong. This person did the same thing within minutes of my initial comment too. Though it seems people that come along later on tend to appreciate the info, it's still pretty weird to me that the users themselves are so committed to thinking they are right rather than actually being right.
Edit 2: You'd also think maybe Twitch would be one of the advertising partners that would be interested in buying that data. Weird that in their audience page for potential advertisers there's zero mention of PlayStation as an audience partner: https://twitchadvertising.tv/audience/
Don't worry. I'll still be here.
Take your time finding a source. I'll wait.