Ban on targeted political ads anticipates clashes between European Commission and Parliament

The European Commission rejects the European Parliament’s proposal for a complete ban on targeted political advertising before the 2024 elections. Ms. Věra Jourová suggests allowing some forms of microtargeting with strict transparency measures, fearing a ban would limit political parties’ online campaigning. She is willing to discuss the option for voters to disable all internet political ads, but opposes letting them select which ads they see.

Ms Věra Jourová (the European Commission’s vice-president for values and transparency) has rejected the European Parliament’s call for a total ban on targeted political advertising ahead of the 2024 legislative election. Concerned that a total ban would hinder political parties’ capability to utilise internet campaigns, Jourová some forms of microtargeting should be permitted as long as transparency around the criteria used is strictly imposed. The Parliament previously considered the regulation on the transparency and targeting of political advertising that includes a set of rules guarding against undue voter manipulations through microtargeting based on profile and behavioural tracking. Jourová is open to a discussion on whether voters could completely turn off internet political advertising entirely but is cautious against allowing them to choose to which ads they wish to be exposed.

Source: Financial Times