A new analysis by global advocacy group Ekō claims Meta hosted ads that raised €2.05 million for the Israeli Defence Forces.
From March to June 2025, Ekō identified 117 ads on Meta platforms run by two fundraising groups targeting users in the UK and EU.
These ads allegedly bypassed EU laws requiring political ads to undergo checks and display who paid for them.
One ad by US-based charity Vaad Hatzedaka told the story of a rabbi and asked for donations for thermal drones.
Another campaign reposted by an Israeli singer showed IDF snipers asking for tripods, linking to the Chesed Fund’s donation site.
Users could donate bulletproof vests, helmets or underwater drones to Israeli soldiers via the Chesed Fund, Ekō reported.
Such content likely breaches Meta’s advertising rules, which require pre-approval for political or military-related ads in the EU.
Meta removed the ads after they were flagged but has been criticised for failing to stop repeat campaigns.
“Meta’s platform is not just failing — it’s enabling these fundraising efforts,” Ekō said in a statement.
Ekō also argues that Meta may have violated the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires fast removal of illegal content.
The DSA also demands transparency from platforms like Meta, which has over 259 million users in the EU each month.
Penalties for DSA breaches could reach six per cent of Meta’s global turnover if wrongdoing is proven.
Ekō plans to present its findings to the European Commission for potential investigation.
