The EU’s Regulation 2024/900 on the Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) was a major step toward protecting free and fair elections, ensuring free political discourse, and protecting our democracies from undue influence. The law will enter into full force from 10 October 2025.

The European Commission is working now on guidance for implementing the Regulation, providing an opportunity to clarify its broad scope and potential unintended consequences.

One key issue is the definition of political advertising.

The law’s vague language risks encompassing a wide range of civil society public-facing communication, including advocacy campaigns and civic discussions. Without clear guidelines from the Commission, national enforcement bodies may interpret the law inconsistently, limiting civil society organisations from fulfilling their watchdog role and fostering a thriving political discussion online.

Another concern is how the Regulation impacts political influencers. Influencers potentially reach a high percentage of society, influencing political decision-making. Clarification of their roles as political advertisers will support transparency and accountability.

Foreign funding restrictions are overly broad and potentially threaten CSO activities. If misapplied, these rules could stifle legitimate advocacy efforts.

Clear guidance from the European Commission will help balance the Regulation, ensuring transparency, accountability, and political free speech remain intact while safeguarding Europe’s fair elections and democratic discourse.

Our detailed policy brief is available here.

Further resources

Oped: Why Should We Worry About Google’s Decision to Stop Serving Political Advertising in The EU?

In Conversation with Who Targets Me | Election Monitoring Talks