Key facts
- Poland has asked the European Commission to fine Meta €250 million.
- The fine is related to Meta's alleged failure to combat scams and false advertising.
- Poland's Minister of Digital Affairs also called for Meta to implement better tools against illegal content.
- Google, Meta, and TikTok are facing similar complaints across the EU under the Digital Services Act.
- Consumer groups reported nearly 900 fraudulent ads, with a low removal rate.
Poland has formally requested the European Commission to impose a €250 million fine on Meta, citing the platform's alleged failure to effectively combat scams and false advertising. Krzysztof Gawkowski, Poland's Minister of Digital Affairs, also urged Meta to implement more robust tools to remove illegal content and fraudulent promotions.
This action by Poland aligns with broader scrutiny of major online platforms under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). Google, Meta, and TikTok are collectively facing complaints from consumer organizations across 27 European countries. These complaints allege that the platforms have allowed fraudulent financial promotions to persist despite numerous reports from consumer groups.
According to the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), nearly 900 advertisements suspected of breaching EU laws were reported between December and March. The consumer groups claim that only 27% of these ads were removed, with over half of the reports being rejected or ignored. The DSA allows for fines up to 6% of a company's global annual turnover for serious breaches.
Both Google and Meta have defended their existing anti-scam measures. A Google spokesperson stated that the company blocks over 99% of violating ads before they appear, while Meta reported removing over 159 million scam advertisements last year, with 92% identified proactively. However, the scale and coordinated nature of these complaints, spanning almost the entire EU consumer market, are expected to intensify regulatory pressure on how these platforms manage systemic risks associated with illegal and harmful content.