Google, Meta and Microsoft to stop showing political ads in the EU

#1

Post by martinohansen » Fri, Oct 10, 2025, 6:25 PM UTC

Google, Meta and Microsoft to stop showing political ads in the EU
politico.eu

Re: Google, Meta and Microsoft to stop showing political ads in the EU

#2

Post by tdb7893 » Fri, Oct 10, 2025, 6:56 PM UTC

Ignoring political implications here and just on a personal level I wish political ads were banned. Quite possibly my least favorite type of ad to see and I've never felt meaningfully informed by them (generally quite the opposite).

Re: Google, Meta and Microsoft to stop showing political ads in the EU

#3

Post by fsflover » Fri, Oct 10, 2025, 6:58 PM UTC

tdb7893 wrote: post #2

Ignoring political implications here and just on a personal level I wish political ads were banned. Quite possibly my least favorite type of ad to see and I've never felt meaningfully informed by them (generally quite the opposite).

I would go even further: banning all ads, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43595269

Re: Google, Meta and Microsoft to stop showing political ads in the EU

#4

Post by cj » Fri, Oct 10, 2025, 6:59 PM UTC

tdb7893 wrote: post #2

Ignoring political implications here and just on a personal level I wish political ads were banned. Quite possibly my least favorite type of ad to see and I've never felt meaningfully informed by them (generally quite the opposite).

> Campaigners say the law will cause a harmful loss of information

I find this quote from the article amusing.

If EU political ads are anything like USA political ads, the objective of the ad is rarely, if ever, to educate the audience.

The objective of most political ads is to confuse, disorient, and distort the narrative.

Re: Google, Meta and Microsoft to stop showing political ads in the EU

#5

Post by alex1138 » Fri, Oct 10, 2025, 7:00 PM UTC

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21407531

Re: Google, Meta and Microsoft to stop showing political ads in the EU

#6

Post by zb3 » Fri, Oct 10, 2025, 7:04 PM UTC

Good, political ads are total crap, no matter what party they're for.

Re: Google, Meta and Microsoft to stop showing political ads in the EU

#7

Post by dangus » Fri, Oct 10, 2025, 7:06 PM UTC

fsflover wrote: post #3

tdb7893 wrote: post #2

Ignoring political implications here and just on a personal level I wish political ads were banned. Quite possibly my least favorite type of ad to see and I've never felt meaningfully informed by them (generally quite the opposite).

I would go even further: banning all ads, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43595269

Sounds like a good way to trap everyone with incumbent corporations.

No quitting your corporate job to start your own business, you’re not allowed to advertise.

Re: Google, Meta and Microsoft to stop showing political ads in the EU

#8

Post by t43562 » Fri, Oct 10, 2025, 7:09 PM UTC

Excellent! People with money won't be able to use those platforms to buy votes.

Re: Google, Meta and Microsoft to stop showing political ads in the EU

#9

Post by morkalork » Fri, Oct 10, 2025, 7:14 PM UTC

Will this be the same situation as the news ban on Facebook where all the legitimate ads disappear and all that remains are the deceptive propaganda paid for by shell companies?

Re: Google, Meta and Microsoft to stop showing political ads in the EU

#10

Post by dietr1ch » Fri, Oct 10, 2025, 7:15 PM UTC

dangus wrote: post #7

fsflover wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would go even further: banning all ads, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43595269

Sounds like a good way to trap everyone with incumbent corporations. No quitting your corporate job to start your own business, you’re not allowed to advertise.

You are conflating slapping ads in people's faces with making your business listed on the white/yellow/whatever pages and allowing people to find you without being a jerk.