Poland has urged the European Union to accelerate action against Meta after a new report estimated the technology giant could have earned around $199 million (760 million zlotys) from fraudulent advertisements in the country over a year.
Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski called the findings “staggering” and said he would press European Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen to speed up ongoing proceedings against the Facebook and Instagram owner.
“Severe penalties for Meta must be imposed as soon as possible,” Gawkowski said, adding: “The higher the penalties, the better. No leniency!”
The report, published on Wednesday by the Polish think tank Instrat, estimated that scam advertisements represented 10.85 per cent of the total advertising reach across Meta platforms in Poland.
It estimated Meta could have generated around $199 million (760 million zlotys) from such advertisements in the year to July 2026, which is equivalent to roughly 37 per cent of Facebook Poland’s reported annual revenue.
Instrat President Michał Hetmański accused Meta of allowing organised criminal groups to exploit its platforms, questioning whether Poland had become too profitable a market for the company to effectively restrict fraudulent advertising.
The findings add to mounting pressure from Warsaw. In August, Gawkowski asked the European Commission to impose a $287 million (€250 million) fine on Meta, accusing the company of failing to remove more than 80 per cent of fraudulent advertisements reported to it, including scams using the likenesses of politicians, journalists and other public figures.
Meta has rejected suggestions that it deliberately profits from fraudulent content, saying combating scams remains a priority.
The company said it removed 137,000 advertisements in Poland for violating its scam and fraud policies between July 2025 and June 2026, with more than 88 per cent removed before being reported by users.
It has also announced an enhanced AI-based scam detection system, with Poland among the first European countries where it is being introduced.
The European Commission already has formal proceedings open against Meta under the Digital Services Act over several issues, including its policies and practices concerning deceptive advertising.
The Commission has previously said the proceedings allow it to seek further evidence and take enforcement action if violations are established.
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