Meta faces potential 250 million EUR fine in Poland over scam ads

A dispute regarding fraudulent advertising on Meta platforms has escalated into a regulatory conflict in Poland. Rafał Brzoska, the founder of InPost, has alleged that Meta could be earning as much as 20 million PLN daily from scam advertisements in Poland, including deepfakes, fake investment schemes, and fraudulent medical products.

Meta has formally denied these claims, stating that Brzoska’s figures lack factual basis, methodology, or known sources. The company noted it is implementing AI-based systems to block fraudulent content and has introduced mandatory identity verification for financial sector advertisers in the Polish market.

In response to the surge in deceptive ads, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski announced that the government is seeking a fine of up to 250 million EUR against Meta. Gawkowski emphasized the need to impose stricter controls on digital platforms to prevent them from profiting from scams. Additionally, the Polish government is working on legislation intended to systemically block such advertisements and strengthen national cybersecurity.