Meta to Ban Political Ads in EU Starting October Due to New Regulations
Meta Platforms has announced that it will stop running political, electoral, and social issue advertisements across the European Union starting in early October. The company cited legal uncertainties brought by the EU’s new rules on political advertising as the reason for its decision.
This move follows a similar action by Google, which made the same announcement in November 2024. Both companies are pushing back against stricter EU regulations that aim to improve transparency and limit Big Tech’s influence in democratic processes.
The upcoming regulation, called the Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA), takes effect on October 10, 2025. It was introduced in response to concerns over disinformation and foreign meddling in elections across the EU’s 27 member states.
Under the law, platforms like Meta and Google must clearly label political ads, identify who paid for them and how much was spent, and disclose which elections are being targeted. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 6% of a company’s global annual revenue.
In a recent blog post, Meta stated:
“From early October 2025, we will no longer allow political, electoral and social issue ads on our platforms in the EU.”
The company explained that the TTPA presents major operational and legal challenges, making compliance difficult. Meta expressed concern that the regulation may actually harm public discourse in Europe.
Meta said:
“We believe personalized ads are essential for many advertisers, including those promoting awareness about key social issues. However, rules like the TTPA make it much harder to deliver effective messages and limit voter access to vital information.”
Meanwhile, Meta’s platforms Facebook and Instagram are currently under investigation by the European Commission. The probe focuses on their alleged failure to combat disinformation and deceptive advertising ahead of the 2024 European Parliament elections.
This investigation falls under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which holds major tech platforms accountable for illegal and harmful content. Companies found in violation may face penalties of up to 6% of their global revenue.
TikTok, owned by ByteDance, is also being scrutinized by the EU for its role in potential election interference, particularly during Romania’s presidential election last November.
