The European Union’s new rules on political advertising, set to take effect in October 2025, have prompted tech giants Meta and Google to suspend all political and social advertising across Europe. While the legislation was intended to promote transparency and fairness in election campaigns, critics warn it could inadvertently strengthen the hand of authoritarian-leaning governments that dominate traditional media.
The Regulation on the Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) is designed to make paid political content more accountable by limiting microtargeting and requiring disclosure of who finances campaigns. But with the withdrawal of the two largest digital platforms from the market, opposition parties across the continent could lose one of their most important avenues to reach voters.
Hungary as a test case
The potential pitfalls of the new regime are already clear in Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party commands overwhelming control of the media landscape. Over the past decade, Fidesz has consolidated influence over regional newspapers, public broadcasters, and pro-government outlets, while bolstering its message through political networks operating under the guise of civil society organisations.
For Hungary’s opposition, social media advertising has been one of the few tools available to challenge the government’s dominance of traditional channels. The ban on paid political ads threatens to strip them of that platform ahead of the country’s next general election in 2026.
Analysts say Fidesz is well placed to adapt to the new environment. Its network of loyal organisations and state-friendly newspapers is expected to find ways to spread government-aligned narratives online through proxies and content presented as organic rather than paid. Meanwhile, rural communities—already exposed primarily to government-influenced media—are likely to remain a stronghold for Fidesz messaging.
Risks of distortion
Although the EU’s rules are intended to curb manipulation and ensure a level playing field, some observers argue they could achieve the opposite effect in countries where checks and balances are weak. “The absence of paid online advertising may look like neutrality, but in practice it removes one of the few tools available to weaker political actors,” one European policy analyst noted.
Without access to digital ad space, opposition groups will struggle to counterbalance governments that command state resources and dominate the airwaves. In such contexts, critics fear the changes could tilt electoral competition even further in favour of ruling parties.
As the 2026 Hungarian elections approach, the EU’s reform is set to face its first major test. While the TTPA was designed to make democracy more transparent, the unintended consequences risk creating an uneven playing field—allowing illiberal regimes greater freedom to shape public opinion and tighten their grip on power.
