Challenges of Political Advertising Regulation on Online Platforms in Europe and the United States
Abstract
The growing role of online platforms in the public discourse has made them a prime platform for reaching citizens, including during election campaigns. The year 2016 marked a turning point in understanding the impact of social media on democratic processes. In the years following this painful realization, regulatory issues surrounding online political campaigning have come to the forefront, both in Europe and in the United States. This paper describes these regulatory measures, highlighting that on both sides of the Atlantic, similar tools are being used to combat electoral disinformation through online political advertising. At the same time, the effectiveness and even the constitutionality of transparency requirements and the regulation of targeted advertising techniques remain subjects of debate.
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