Meta to Ban Political Ads in EU Starting October 2025 Amid Regulatory Pressure

Meta will prohibit all political advertising across the European Union from October 2025, citing operational challenges under the EU's new Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising Regulation (TTPA). The law mandates detailed disclosures on ad funding, targeting, and spending—requirements Meta claims introduce legal uncertainty.

The decision marks another friction point in Meta's strained relationship with EU regulators. Brussels has grown wary of foreign interference and manipulative campaigns enabled by micro-targeted ads. Platforms must now maintain searchable databases of political ad data accessible to journalists and the public.

While Meta maintains that online political ads remain "a vital part of modern politics," the ban coincides with the TTPA's October 2025 enforcement deadline—timed to impact campaigns ahead of European Parliament elections. The social media giant already faces scrutiny under the EU's Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act.