Concerns Raised Over Political Ad Targeting Violations on Platform X
AI Forensics reveals political targeting violations by advertisers on platform X, raising GDPR compliance concerns.
Key Points
- • X allowed advertisers to target ads using political criteria, violating GDPR.
- • Hundreds of ads from 2023 to 2025 used sensitive targeting without proper consent.
- • The European Data Protection Supervisor ruled users weren't adequately informed about data use.
- • The Digital Services Act's advertising archive revealed these violations.
A recent investigation by the NGO AI Forensics has revealed that advertisers on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) have engaged in prohibited political targeting practices, potentially violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The report, published on June 18, 2025, draws attention to hundreds of advertisements from 2023 to 2025 that utilized targeting based on sensitive personal information, including political opinions and sexual orientation, without obtaining proper user consent.
European laws are clear in their prohibition against using sensitive criteria for political advertising without explicit consent from users. Such practices were brought to light through an analysis of the advertising archives mandated by the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires digital platforms to maintain transparency about their advertising strategies. The illegal use of political targeting was directly observed, prompting serious discussions about privacy and ethical standards in digital advertising.
According to findings from the investigation, a decision by the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) in 2024 noted that individuals targeted by these ads were not adequately informed about the usage of their sensitive data. This lack of transparency undermines the core tenets of GDPR, which are designed to protect individuals’ privacy in the digital landscape. The NGO's report emphasizes the severity of the situation, calling out the misuse of data that poses risks to user privacy and raises ethical questions about consent in advertising practices.
"The findings illustrate a frightening disregard for users' privacy and rights in the context of political advertising," stated a representative from AI Forensics. "This highlights the urgent need for stricter compliance and oversight to ensure the protection of sensitive user information."
As regulatory bodies begin to scrutinize these violations more closely, the implications for X and its advertisers may lead to significant legal ramifications and a demand for improved practices in handling personal data online.