The complaint might result in significant fines under the Digital Services Act.
The European Consumer Organisation urges regulators to probe tech giants over increasing scam ads.
Tech giants Google, Meta, and TikTok face European scrutiny for their alleged involvement in rising financial scams targeting users. They are accused of not removing fraudulent ads from their platforms or notifying users properly, according to complaints filed by the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and its 29 members across 27 European countries, Reuters reported.
The consumer group identified 900 ads they claimed violated EU laws, but said only 27 percent were removed by platforms, with more than half of the reports being rejected or ignored.
The complaints were filed under the EU’s Digital Services Act, which could result in hefty fines if the companies are found guilty.
“We strictly enforce our ad policies, blocking over 99% of violating ads before they ever run. Our teams constantly update these defenses to stay ahead of scammers and protect people,” a Google spokesperson told the press.
“We invest in advanced AI, tools, and partnerships to stop them. Last year we found and removed over 159 million scam ads, 92% before anyone reported them to us,” Meta responded.
Meta was recently accused of profiting from scam ads targeting older Americans and Medicare recipients. A Reuters investigation last year found Meta made billions from fraudulent ads, also known as “high risk” advertising. AI-powered scams are spreading across platforms, including Google-owned YouTube and TikTok.
The Digital Services Act—comprising broader laws for more transparent reporting and consumer protections—went into effect in 2022. Since then, the EU has launched several investigations into major tech companies, like a recent Google antitrust probe, an inquiry into Meta’s child safety policies, and a comprehensive audit of TikTok’s algorithm and data policies.