EU files complaints against Google, Meta, TikTok
- European consumer groups lodged complaints alleging Google, Meta and TikTok failed to stop scam ads and fraudulent financial promotions on their platforms. - The filings point to potential enforcement under the EU Digital Services Act, where fines can reach up to 6% of global annual revenue. - The complaints could force stricter ad controls and reduce visibility for algorithmic investment pitches on major platforms (reuters.com).
1/ European consumer groups have filed complaints against Google, Meta and TikTok, accusing the platforms of failing to stop financial scam ads and fraudulent promotions shown to EU users on their services. The filings were submitted on May 21 by BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation, and 29 member groups in 27 countries. (money.usnews.com) 2/ The complaints were sent to the European Commission and national regulators under the EU’s Digital Services Act, the rulebook that applies to very large online platforms and search engines and gives Brussels direct enforcement powers over them. (money.usnews.com) 3/ BEUC Director General Agustín Reyna said Google, Meta and TikTok “not only fail to pro-actively remove fraudulent ads” but also “do little when being notified about such scams,” according to the group’s statement reported by Reuters. (money.usnews.com) 4/ The consumer groups said they reported nearly 900 ads suspected of breaching EU law between December 2025 and March 2026. They said the platforms removed 27% of those ads, while 52% of the reports were rejected or ignored. (money.usnews.com) 5/ Why this matters procedurally: a complaint does not itself mean the companies have been found in breach. Under the Commission’s DSA process, regulators can gather evidence, open a formal proceeding, hear the companies’ responses and then issue a non-compliance decision if they establish a violation. (digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu) 6/ The number drawing attention is the penalty ceiling. The European Commission says DSA fines can be proportionate and “shall in no case exceed 6%” of a provider’s global annual turnover. Reuters reported the same ceiling in this case. (digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu) 7/ The immediate allegation is not just that scam ads appeared. The complaint argues the platforms failed both on prevention and on response after notice, which is central under the DSA’s risk-mitigation and enforcement structure for very large platforms. (money.usnews.com) 8/ This also lands in a broader EU pattern. BEUC has already backed DSA-related pressure on Meta and TikTok in other cases, including Meta content-moderation issues and TikTok advertising-transparency and design concerns. (beuc.eu) 9/ Reuters said there was no immediate response from Google, Meta or TikTok to its request for comment. So, as of May 21, the public record is the complaint, the reported ad-review data and the request for regulators to investigate. (money.usnews.com) 10/ What happens next: the European Commission and national regulators will decide whether to investigate the complaints under the DSA. If Brussels suspects an infringement, it can open a proceeding and move toward remedies or fines after hearing the companies. (digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu)
