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Google Rejects EU Consumer Complaint Over Fraudulent Ads

Google rejected accusations that it failed to adequately combat fraudulent advertising across its platforms following a complaint submitted by consumer organisations from Cyprus and other European Union member states. The complaint also targets Meta and TikTok, alleging that the companies breached obligations under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

Complaint Overview

The complaint was submitted on May 21 by the Cyprus Consumers Association together with 281 consumer organisations coordinated by BEUC. An investigation conducted between December 2025 and March 2026 by BEUC and 13 national consumer associations preceded the filing. Researchers identified 893 allegedly fraudulent advertisements across 13 countries, with findings suggesting that financial scam advertisements remained widespread on platforms operated by Google, Meta and TikTok.

Google’s Response

A spokesperson for Google dismissed the allegations and defended the company’s existing anti-fraud systems. According to Google, more than 99% of advertisements violating company policies are blocked before publication. Company representatives also argued that the complaint misrepresented the scale and effectiveness of Google’s fraud prevention measures.

Regulatory Pressure And Future Implications

Growing scrutiny from European regulators and consumer groups is increasing pressure on major technology platforms to strengthen oversight of digital advertising systems. Particular focus has been placed on how platforms respond when potentially fraudulent advertisements are flagged by users, regulators or consumer organisations.

Broader concerns surrounding financial scams and consumer protection across digital marketplaces are also becoming more prominent within the European Union’s regulatory agenda. The outcome of the complaint could influence future enforcement of the Digital Services Act and shape how large technology companies manage advertising moderation, compliance and fraud prevention across European markets.


Meta Bets On AI To Strengthen Facebook’s Appeal Among Creators

Meta is expanding its use of artificial intelligence to strengthen Facebook’s appeal among creators, unveiling plans to transform Creator Studio into a standalone AI-powered companion app designed to simplify content management and audience growth.

An AI Assistant Built Around Creator Workflows

Announced on Wednesday, the new app is currently being tested with a select group of creators and incorporates Facebook’s recently launched AI creator assistant. According to Meta, the tool provides personalised recommendations based on a creator’s content, audience engagement, performance metrics and growth objectives.

Rather than navigating multiple dashboards and analytics reports, creators will be able to ask questions directly in a conversational format. Queries such as when to post, how content is performing or what audiences are discussing in the comments can be answered through the assistant, with follow-up prompts offering deeper insights into engagement trends.

From Analytics To Action

Beyond reporting performance data, the platform is designed to help creators act on those insights. A new AI-powered comment management tool will identify priority interactions and suggest responses tailored to the creator’s tone and style. Suggested replies can be reviewed and edited before publication, allowing creators to maintain control over their communication while reducing the time spent managing engagement.

Daily recommendations will also be integrated into the app, highlighting key tasks such as reviewing recent content performance, tracking progress toward audience goals and responding to important comments. The aim is to turn Creator Studio into a more comprehensive productivity tool rather than a traditional analytics platform.

Why Meta Is Pushing Harder For Creators

The initiative comes as competition for creators intensifies across social media platforms. Facebook continues to compete with TikTok and YouTube for audience attention, making creator retention an increasingly important priority. By embedding AI more deeply into creator workflows, Meta is seeking to make content planning, performance analysis and community management easier without requiring users to rely on external tools.

Keeping more of those activities within Facebook’s ecosystem could help strengthen creator engagement while reducing dependence on third-party AI platforms for brainstorming, analytics and audience insights.

Part Of A Broader App Expansion Strategy

Wednesday’s announcement fits into a broader pattern of product launches from Meta. Last month, the company introduced Forum, a stand-alone app for Facebook Groups that functions similarly to Reddit. In April, it launched Instants, an app for sharing disappearing photos with Instagram friends.

The pipeline appears to be growing. The New York Times reported this week that Meta is also building a prediction-market app internally known as Arena, though it has not yet launched. Taken together, these products suggest a company that is increasingly comfortable spinning up focused apps around specific use cases instead of relying solely on its flagship platforms.

That approach aligns with comments CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly made to employees earlier this year, when he pointed to AI-driven efficiencies as a way for Meta to build more apps than it historically has. The message is clear: Meta is not just adding AI features. It is reorganizing product strategy around them.

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