Meta Platforms has announced new measures requiring advertisers to disclose the use of AI or other digital techniques in political or social issue ads, as the tech giant aims to combat misinformation ahead of the Canadian federal elections.
The new policy mandates disclosure if an ad includes digitally created or altered content that depicts real people saying or doing things they never actually did. It also applies to ads featuring nonexistent individuals, realistic events that never occurred, or manipulated footage of real-world events.
Meta has faced increasing scrutiny over its role in political misinformation. In November 2024, the company extended its ban on new political ads after the U.S. elections, responding to concerns about deceptive content. In 2023, it also restricted political campaigns and regulated industries from using its generative AI-powered advertising tools.
Despite these actions, Meta made significant changes to its political content policies earlier this year, including scrapping its U.S. fact-checking program and placing limits on discussions about sensitive topics such as immigration and gender identity. The shift followed pressure from conservative groups, leading to one of the most significant overhauls of its content management approach.
Meta has also introduced features allowing users to disclose AI-generated images, videos, and audio, enabling the platform to label such content accordingly. The company claims that generative AI has had limited impact across Facebook and Instagram in 2024, failing to attract a significant audience or be effectively utilized on its platforms.
As AI-driven misinformation continues to pose challenges to global elections and public discourse, Meta’s latest policy reflects an attempt to balance transparency, regulation, and political content moderation ahead of key elections worldwide.
Stay tuned to DC Brief for further updates on this story and other technology developments.
