META DISABLES POLITICAL ADS ACROSS EUROPEAN UNION

Meta is implementing a complete ban on political, electoral, and social issue advertising across the European Union, effective October 6 at 6pm CET. The move stems from the incoming Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulation, which introduces stringent requirements for digital ad platforms operating in the region.

Regulatory Complexity Drives Meta’s Decision

The TTPA provision mandates that platforms obtain explicit and separate consent from each user before using their data for political campaigns. Meta argues that meeting these requirements at its scale creates an untenable level of complexity and legal uncertainty. Rather than navigate the compliance burden, the company decided halting these ad categories entirely was the most practical solution for both advertisers and the platform.

Trump Administration Scrutiny and Global Impact

Meta has consistently opposed aggressive EU regulation, framing such policies as regulatory overreach that restricts information flow on critical political issues. The company has lobbied the Trump administration for support in pushing back against European regulatory approaches, though the White House has not intervened directly. However, U.S. government officials have criticized European regulations and suggested potential action if they view these measures as targeted restrictions on American businesses.

The ban applies exclusively to the EU; political advertising will continue globally. Meta advertisers using API tools in Europe must update their systems accordingly to comply with the October 10 deadline when regulations take formal effect. The company reaffirmed its commitment to providing “industry-leading verification and transparency tools globally” beyond the EU restrictions.