Meta delays arrival of ads on WhatsApp in EU until 2026
Meta is delaying the arrival of ads on WhatsApp, reports Ireland's privacy regulator, the Data Protection Commission. Last week, the tech giant announced that ads would be introduced on WhatsApp in the coming months.
Editorial PONT | Data & Privacy June 23, 2025
The delay follows privacy concerns within the EU over Meta's announcement.
Politico reports that privacy organizations are particularly concerned about Meta's use of data from Instagram and Facebook to target ads on WhatsApp. Ads will be introduced in the rest of the world this month, though.
Earlier, the introduction of AI on WhatsApp was also delayed in the EU. This was due to concerns from Ireland's privacy watchdog. According to Commissioner Dale Sunderland, a similar conversation has not yet been held with the social media giant over ads.
