Meta and Google cut themselves off from politics. EU tightens the rules, large Tech resigns from advertising

Meta joins Google in boycotting fresh European Union government on political advertising. As of October 2025, Mark Zuckerberg's company will halt the issue of political, election and social advertising on Facebook and Instagram in all 27 associate States. Reason? The legal and operational risks arising from the fresh TTPA Regulation are besides high.

The EU announced that as of October 10 it will apply *Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising Regulation* – a set of rules to limit misinformation and abroad interference in electoral campaigns. Digital platforms will gotta accurately signify political advertising, uncover the identity of payers, the size of the budget and the intent of the run – and for failing to fulfil their obligations there is simply a punishment of up to 6% of global turnover.

This right, although justified by the request to increase transparency, in practice proves besides costly to implement for the largest players. Both Meta and Google have previously judged them to be besides vague, besides hard to apply across the EU and possibly advanced penalties.

Resigning political advertising is simply a strategical defence movement. Meta does not want to be a test for fresh regulations that can be interpreted differently from country to country. The company would alternatively retreat completely than hazard legal disputes and enforcement problems.

However, the decision raises questions about the impact on freedom of speech and access to information. Political and social advertising campaigns are frequently a tool for NGOs, local initiatives or limited-budget parties that could effectively scope voters through precise targeting.

Meanwhile, the disappearance of these formats from Facebook and Instagram can concreteise the informational scenery on the web. For Meta, it is an image – and business problem, due to the fact that although political advertising is simply a tiny share of revenue, its presence was proof of the importance of the platform as a channel of social influence.

The European Union focuses on tough regulation, large Tech on hazard avoidance. The clash of 2 logics – political and corporate – is now entering a decisive phase.