Meta’s China Ad Crackdown Stalls Amid Revenue Pressures
Meta's enforcement against fraudulent Chinese advertisers faltered in 2024 despite internal warnings. The company initially reduced banned ads from 19% to 9% after forming a dedicated anti-fraud team, but leadership intervention paused the effort. Documents reveal China accounted for a quarter of scam ads on Meta platforms, targeting global victims from Taiwanese shoppers to North American investors.
Consultants highlighted flawed policies enabling bad actors, yet Meta lifted restrictions on new Chinese ad agencies. The reversal underscores the tension between integrity and revenue—China remains Meta's $18B+ cash cow, with 2024 ad sales dominated by gambling, scams, and banned products.