CRIME & LAW

European Union groups challenge big tech scam ads

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European Union groups challenge big tech scam ads

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Brussels, Belgium – Consumer organizations in the European Union have filed formal complaints against Google, Meta, and TikTok, arguing that scam advertisements continue to run on their platforms despite legal obligations under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The complaints focus on how these very large online platforms, each with more than 45 million monthly EU users, allow advertisers to upload, target, and pay for campaigns at high speed, often reaching millions of people before any meaningful human review takes place. Consumer advocates say this self-serve advertising model prioritizes rapid delivery and revenue over careful checks on whether an ad is deceptive, leaving gaps that scammers repeatedly exploit. Brussels, Belgium – The European consumer group BEUC reports that nearly 900 suspected illegal financial ads were flagged between December 2025 and March 2026, but only about 27% were removed, raising questions about how effectively the DSA’s stricter rules on ad oversight are being enforced. Examples cited include fake investment promotions featuring doctored images of celebrities, fraudulent crypto offerings, and other financial scams that target people’s savings and retirement funds. Campaigners say these scams translate into stolen savings and long-term financial harm for ordinary users, and they argue that regulators should scrutinize whether platforms remove repeat scam advertisers themselves, rather than just taking down individual ads after the damage has begun.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

Early 2000s Online ads become self-serve software
2010s Platforms scale automated ad targeting globally
August 2023 EU Digital Services Act starts applying
December 2025 BEUC begins tracking suspect financial ads
December 2025–March 2026 Nearly 900 illegal ads reported
Same period Only 27 percent reportedly taken down
May 21 Consumer groups file EU complaints
Today Debate intensifies over platform ad responsibility

Why This Matters to You

Scam ads can trick you into losing money, even your life savings. They often look like real investment opportunities, featuring doctored images of celebrities. Be cautious about online ads, especially those promoting financial deals or crypto offerings.

The Bottom Line

Big tech platforms are under fire for not doing enough to stop scam ads. This could lead to stricter regulations and safer online spaces. But until then, remember: if an ad seems too good to be true, it probably is. Worth forwarding if you know someone who's not internet-savvy.