Company to Suspend All Paid Political Ads from October
Meta Platforms will block political, electoral and social issue advertising across Facebook, Instagram and Threads in the European Union starting in early October. The decision comes ahead of the EU’s implementation of new political advertising rules, which the company describes as legally ambiguous and operationally burdensome.
In a blog post, Meta stated that the 27-member bloc’s Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising regulations are “unworkable,” adding that the upcoming framework introduces complex requirements that pose serious compliance challenges. The regulations are scheduled to take effect on October 10.
Regulatory Burden and Risk of Fines
Under the new rules, platforms must label political ads, identify who funded them, and provide context on the campaign or legislative issue they relate to. Ads must be stored in a public database and can only be targeted under strict conditions. Violators face fines of up to 6% of global annual revenue.
Meta cited these requirements as a source of legal uncertainty for both platforms and advertisers, warning that the changes demand substantial adjustments to internal systems and data handling practices. The company said this level of regulatory complexity is “untenable.”
Meta Follows Google in Restricting Political Ads
Meta is not alone in its response to the EU’s regulatory tightening. Google had already announced plans last year to suspend political advertising for EU users ahead of the new rules, also citing operational constraints and legal concerns. Both companies appear to be aligning their policies to mitigate compliance risks and avoid steep financial penalties.
The EU has framed the legislation as part of its broader campaign to increase election transparency and reduce foreign interference. The rules complement other digital measures targeting data privacy and platform accountability.
Organic Political Content Still Allowed
Despite the advertising restrictions, Meta clarified that users, political figures, and campaigns will still be able to post political content organically. The new policy will only affect paid promotions, limiting the reach of political messaging through Meta’s ad tools.
“They just won’t be able to amplify this through paid advertising,” the company said, underscoring that political debate and expression on its platforms remain intact — but without boosted visibility.
