Meta removes all paid political and social ads from October to circumvent European regulations.
Meta will no longer allow political or social ads in the European Union from October. The company claims it finds the new rules for political ads too complex.
New EU Rules Too Strict
From October, new obligations for political ads will apply in the EU. Online platforms must clearly indicate who pays for an ad and whether personal data has been used to target that ad.
According to Meta, the legislation brings “unmanageable complexity”. Instead of adapting and following the rules as required, the company decides to completely eliminate that category of ads. The decision also applies in the United Kingdom and other European areas where the company operates.
No more Boost for Politicians
The measure does not mean that politicians cannot post anything anymore. They can continue to post on Meta’s platforms. What they can no longer do is pay to reach more people with their message.
Meta is not the only company taking this route. Google also decided earlier not to allow political ads in Europe. It seems as if they want to operate in the EU without adhering to the rules. Whether both platforms will be able to automatically block all political ads is probably not realistic. If something slips through the cracks without the necessary transparency, it is immediately a violation of EU law.
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