Overview
- Executive director Tim Miller used a speech at the ICE Barcelona conference to allege Meta is turning a blind eye to illicit gambling advertising targeting UK users.
- Miller said Meta’s claim that it learns of illegal ads only when notified is "simply false," pointing to Meta’s public ad library as evidence.
- The commission found advertisers openly using "Not on GamStop" keywords, which it says Meta could detect and block with basic keyword tools.
- According to Miller, Meta suggested the agency use Meta’s AI to report ads and pledged removals upon notification, but the commission reports very limited progress.
- The watchdog warns such ads expose vulnerable people to fraud and benefit criminals, and prior reporting indicates similar problems in countries that ban such advertising.