Get the latest tech news

Controversial EU ad campaign on X broke bloc’s own privacy rules


The European Union's executive body is facing an embarrassing privacy scandal after it was confirmed on Friday that a Commission ad campaign on X

In a press release announcing the outcome of the complaint, Felix Mikolasch, a data protection lawyer for the non-profit, wrote: “Since Cambridge Analytica it is clear that targeted ads can influence democracy. noyb’s complaint highlighted how the Commission’s ad campaign on X sought to indirectly promote the CSAM regulation in a bid to sway opinion among citizens in the Netherlands — targeting users in the country who weren’t interested in keywords such as:#Qatargate, brexit, Marine Le Pen, Alternative für Deutschland, Vox, Christian, Christian-phobia or Giorgia Meloni. Reached for comment, Danny Mekić, the technologist who originally spotted the Commission ad campaign and raised concerns about its use of microtargeting, welcomed the EDPS’ “swift action” — telling TechCrunch he’s pleased with the outcome of the investigation.

Get the Android app

Or read this on TechCrunch

Read more on:

Photo of privacy rules

privacy rules

Photo of X broke bloc

X broke bloc

Related news:

News photo

Apple Intelligence won't be available in Europe because Tim's terrified of watchdogs / These privacy rules might harm privacy! No, really, that's totally why we're doing this

News photo

Ted Cruz wants to stop the FCC from updating data-breach notification rules. FCC accused of violating congressional resolution that nullified privacy rules.