Meta Shuts Down EU Political Ads — Calls New Rules 'Unworkable'

Meta Platforms will ban political, electoral, and social issue ads in the EU starting October, according to the AFP. The social media giant cited “unworkable requirements” under the bloc’s new transparency law. The EU’s Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising rules aim to increase online ad transparency following the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has publicly criticized EU oversight, calling recent fines “tariffs.” Meta is currently facing a $235 million penalty and could incur additional daily fines if it doesn’t comply. Google announced a similar political ad ban for the EU beginning October 2025. Broader EU scrutiny has also impacted Apple, which adjusted App Store policies to avoid daily fines.