- Google ceases political ads in the EU ahead of October 2025 regulation
- Meta announces similar halt, citing regulatory burdens
- Shift signals changing landscape for digital political communication and online transparency
Google has pre-emptively ceased accepting political advertisements across the European Union, well in advance of the EU’s Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulation taking effect on October 10.
Under the new EU regulation, any ad deemed political must be explicitly identified, including disclosing the sponsor, relevant election or referendum, payment amounts and targeting methods. Advertisers must declare whether their campaign falls under the political advertisement definition by responding “Yes” or “No”.
Users will also have the ability to report political ads they encounter, which Google will subsequently remove. The platform’s withdrawal means no political ads will appear on YouTube or Google’s AdSense network within the EU.
This move aligns with similar decisions by other major tech firms. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced in July that it will halt all political, electoral, and social-issue advertisements in the EU starting October 2025. Citing the TTPA rules as overly burdensome and legally uncertain, Meta stated that the regulation imposes excessive complexity and risks for both the platforms and advertisers operating in the EU. However, Meta emphasised that political discourse on its platforms will continue organically; the ban pertains strictly to paid promotional content.
The TTPA regulation reflects the EU’s broader push to improve transparency and accountability in online political communications, aiming to combat election interference and improve user protection against opaque advertising practices and data exploitation. In addition to requiring comprehensive disclosure labels on political ads, the new law also restricts advertising-based data collection for targeting purposes.
The departure of Google and Meta from the EU’s political advertising space marks a significant reshaping of digital political communication strategies. In Hungary, where political parties have heavily relied on social media platforms to reach wide electorates, this development introduces uncertainty about which actors may face the greatest disadvantages and how political messaging will adapt.
Beyond political advertising, the EU is intensifying its scrutiny of Big Tech’s responsibilities in managing harmful content. Recent inquiries from the European Commission to companies such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Booking.com demand details of their efforts to curb financial scams exploiting their platforms.
These include fake hotel listings and fraudulent banking apps, reflecting growing concern over the financial and social impacts of online fraud, which is estimated to cost consumers more than €4 billion annually. The new focus shows the EU’s commitment to enforcing laws like the Digital Services Act that hold major technology firms accountable for safer online environments.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://index.hu/gazdasag/2025/09/24/google-valasztasok-meta-eu-tiltas-politika-kampany/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/eu-asks-apple-google-microsoft-what-they-are-doing-tackle-finance-scams-2025-09-24/ – The European Union has formally requested information from Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Booking.com regarding the steps they are taking to combat financial scams on their platforms. This move is part of the EU’s broader effort to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates that major tech companies take greater responsibility for managing illegal and harmful online content. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen emphasized the growing ease with which online fraud occurs and its significant financial impact on consumers, citing losses exceeding €4 billion ($4.7 billion) annually. Scams mentioned include fake hotel listings, fraudulent banking apps, and deepfake videos falsely promoting investments. Global concern is mounting over how emerging technologies like AI may increase consumer vulnerability to such scams. The EU’s inquiry underscores its commitment to holding Big Tech accountable for the security of their digital platforms.
- https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/google-seeks-avoid-ad-tech-breakup-antitrust-trial-begins-2025-09-22/ – Alphabet’s Google faces a critical antitrust trial in Alexandria, Virginia, as it attempts to avoid being forced to divest key parts of its online advertising business. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and several states are pushing for the company to sell its ad exchange platform, AdX, and to make its ad auction mechanism open source. These moves are aimed at curbing what U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema previously ruled as unlawful monopolies in web advertising technology. The trial is part of a broader bipartisan effort in the U.S. to regulate big tech firms, with similar pending cases against Meta, Amazon, and Apple. Google argues that the DOJ’s demands are impractical and would create confusion in the ad industry, and instead proposes policy adjustments to support competition. Testimonies from media executives are expected to reinforce claims that Google’s ad tech practices harm publishers by favoring its own services. The DOJ also proposes further action if its initial remedies don’t increase competition within four years, including forcing Google to sell its publisher ad server.
- https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/07/25/meta-halts-political-advertising-in-the-eu-due-to-unworkable-rules – Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced it will cease all political, electoral, and social issue advertising on its platforms within the European Union starting in October 2025. This decision responds to the EU’s incoming Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulation, which introduces significant operational challenges and legal uncertainties. The TTPA, effective from October 10, requires political ads to carry a transparency label and clearly identify key information such as sponsors, the election to which they are linked, the amounts paid, and targeting techniques. Meta expressed concerns that the new obligations create an untenable level of complexity and legal uncertainty for advertisers and platforms operating in the EU. Despite the advertising ban, Meta clarified that political discussions and content sharing by politicians on its platforms will remain permitted organically, just not through paid promotion. The new rules are part of the EU’s broader efforts to enhance online transparency, curb election interference, and bolster user protection.
- https://about.fb.com/news/2025/07/ending-political-electoral-and-social-issue-advertising-in-the-eu – Meta announced that from early October 2025, it will no longer allow political, electoral, and social issue ads on its platforms in the European Union. This decision is in response to the EU’s incoming Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulation, which introduces significant operational challenges and legal uncertainties. The TTPA mandates that political ads carry a transparency label and clearly identify key information such as sponsors, the election to which they are linked, the amounts paid, and targeting techniques. Meta expressed concerns that the new obligations create an untenable level of complexity and legal uncertainty for advertisers and platforms operating in the EU. Despite the advertising ban, Meta clarified that political discussions and content sharing by politicians on its platforms will remain permitted organically, just not through paid promotion. The new rules are part of the EU’s broader efforts to enhance online transparency, curb election interference, and bolster user protection.
- https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/meta-to-ban-political-advertisements-in-eu-from-october-cites-legal-issues-8949144 – Meta announced that it will stop all political, electoral, and social issue advertising on its platforms in the European Union starting in early October 2025. This decision is a response to the EU’s incoming Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulation, which introduces significant operational challenges and legal uncertainties. The TTPA requires political ads to carry a transparency label and clearly identify key information such as sponsors, the election to which they are linked, the amounts paid, and targeting techniques. Meta expressed concerns that the new obligations create an untenable level of complexity and legal uncertainty for advertisers and platforms operating in the EU. Despite the advertising ban, Meta clarified that political discussions and content sharing by politicians on its platforms will remain permitted organically, just not through paid promotion. The new rules are part of the EU’s broader efforts to enhance online transparency, curb election interference, and bolster user protection.
- https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/7/25/meta-to-suspend-political-advertising-in-the-eu-as-transparency-law-looms – Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced it will suspend all political, electoral, and social issue advertising on its platforms within the European Union starting in October 2025. This decision is in response to the EU’s incoming Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulation, which introduces significant operational challenges and legal uncertainties. The TTPA requires political ads to carry a transparency label and clearly identify key information such as sponsors, the election to which they are linked, the amounts paid, and targeting techniques. Meta expressed concerns that the new obligations create an untenable level of complexity and legal uncertainty for advertisers and platforms operating in the EU. Despite the advertising ban, Meta clarified that political discussions and content sharing by politicians on its platforms will remain permitted organically, just not through paid promotion. The new rules are part of the EU’s broader efforts to enhance online transparency, curb election interference, and bolster user protection.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is current, with Google announcing the cessation of political ads in the EU on September 22, 2025, ahead of the EU’s Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulation effective October 10, 2025. Meta had previously announced a similar move in July 2025. The report includes recent developments and aligns with the latest information. However, the Hungarian publication Index.hu, which reported on Google’s decision, is not widely known internationally, raising questions about the source’s reliability. Additionally, the report includes detailed information about the TTPA regulation and its implications, which is consistent with other reputable sources. ([euronews.com](https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/07/25/meta-halts-political-advertising-in-the-eu-due-to-unworkable-rules?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The report includes direct quotes from Google and Meta regarding their decisions to cease political advertising in the EU. These quotes are consistent with statements made by both companies in previous announcements. However, the exact wording of the quotes in the report cannot be verified against the original sources, as the report is in Hungarian and the original statements were in English. This raises concerns about potential translation inaccuracies.
Source reliability
Score:
5
Notes:
The report originates from Index.hu, a Hungarian publication. While it provides detailed information, the lack of widespread international recognition and the language barrier make it difficult to assess the source’s reliability fully. The report includes information consistent with other reputable sources, but the reliance on a single, less-known source introduces uncertainty.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative aligns with known facts about Google’s and Meta’s decisions to cease political advertising in the EU due to the TTPA regulation. The details about the regulation’s requirements and the companies’ responses are consistent with information from other reputable sources. However, the reliance on a single, less-known source and potential translation inaccuracies in the quotes reduce the overall confidence in the report’s accuracy.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative provides current information about Google’s and Meta’s decisions to cease political advertising in the EU ahead of the TTPA regulation. While the content aligns with known facts and includes details consistent with other reputable sources, the reliance on a single, less-known source and potential translation inaccuracies in the quotes introduce uncertainties. Further verification from more widely recognized sources is recommended to confirm the accuracy of the report.
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