Facebook political ads are what Meta calls ads about social issues, elections or politics, and to run them you have to complete Meta's ad authorization process and add a Paid for by disclaimer naming who paid. Every one of these ads goes into the Ad Library, and an ad that runs without a disclaimer is paused, disapproved and added to the library until you're authorized.
The biggest rule to know is in Europe. In response to the EU's Transparency and Targeting of Political Ads regulation, Meta says advertisers can't create or edit ads about social issues, elections or politics in the European Union at all. Authorization doesn't help there: the category is closed.
What Meta counts as a political ad
Meta treats an ad as being about social issues, elections or politics when the ad is:
- Made by, on behalf of, or about a candidate for public office, a political figure, a political party or a political action committee, or it argues for the outcome of an election
- About any election, referendum or ballot initiative, including get out the vote campaigns
- Regulated as political advertising
Meta's policy looks at the content of the ad, so a business can be caught by it too. In the US, Meta's authorization page says the rules cover anyone creating, changing, publishing or pausing ads that reference political figures, parties or elections, or that support or oppose legislation or call for civic action. Meta also notes that an ad whose main purpose is selling a product or promoting a service may not count as a social issue ad, and points advertisers to its examples.
What you need to get authorized in the US
| Requirement | Detail from Meta |
|---|---|
| Page role | Be a Page admin or advertiser on the Page running the ads |
| Confirmed identity | At least one Page admin with a confirmed identity |
| ID | An unexpired US passport, driver's license or State ID card |
| Address | A US-based residential mailing address |
| Two-factor authentication | Keep it on. Turning it off disables your disclaimers and ads and revokes your authorization |
| Where you are | You must live in and be located in the targeted country when the ads run |
Meta says documents must be issued by your local country or state and can't be expired, and in selected countries a notarised form is also accepted. Requirements differ by country, so check Meta's country list before you start.
How the Paid for by disclaimer works
- The disclaimer shows the name and entity that paid for the ad.
- Only a Page admin can create or edit disclaimers for the country the ads will run in.
- Advertisers without Page admin permissions can still create ads using an existing disclaimer.
- Websites, phone numbers, emails and addresses on the disclaimer must work and be correct. Meta checks them, and takes ads down if the details look invalid.
What happens to your ID
Meta says it confirms identity with trusted service providers and encrypts the ID once uploaded. It normally stores IDs for up to one year to improve its impersonation checks, and you can cut that to 30 days in your identity settings. It may keep your name and date of birth longer where local law requires.
Where political ads can and can't run
| Area | Status in Meta's help pages |
|---|---|
| European Union | Ads about social issues, elections or politics can't be created or edited |
| Countries requiring authorization | Meta requires authorization and reviews these ads in 220+ countries and territories, including the United States and Australia |
| Countries where authorization is encouraged | A short list, such as Hong Kong and South Korea, where Meta encourages but doesn't enforce authorization |
| Placements not supported | Messenger, WhatsApp, right hand column, Facebook Marketplace, Search, Suggested Videos, Video feed, Audience Network and some in-stream options |
| Formats not supported | Dynamic Product Ads and Boosted Ambient Live Video |
Targeting is narrower as well. Meta says Advantage+ detailed targeting isn't available for campaigns about social issues, elections and politics, and the Current city only radius option can't be used for these ads.
The Ad Library and repeat offenders
All of these ads go into the Ad Library, even when the advertiser never finished authorization, and in the US Meta says they stay there for seven years. Meta also warns that advertisers who repeatedly run these ads without authorization face restrictions, which could become a permanent loss of the ability to advertise.
Researchers and journalists can pull ad data, and our guide to the Meta Ad Library API explains access and its limits.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
My verdict
If your ad mentions a law, a candidate, an election or a cause, assume Meta will treat it as political and get authorized before you need it, because the ID and confirmation steps take time. If you only sell products or services, read Meta's examples before you panic: a sales ad isn't usually caught. And if you're running ads for the first time, start with our Facebook ads guide for business owners so the basics are in place, then see our view on whether boosting works for small Pages.
I keep every related walkthrough in the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
Can you run political ads on Facebook in the EU?
No. Meta says that in response to the EU's Transparency and Targeting of Political Ads regulation, advertisers can't create or edit ads about social issues, elections or politics in the European Union.
What ID do I need for Facebook political ads in the US?
Meta asks for an unexpired US passport, driver's license or State ID card and a US-based residential mailing address, plus a Page admin with a confirmed identity.
What happens if I run a political ad without a disclaimer?
Meta says it'll be paused, disapproved and added to the Ad Library until you complete the authorization process.
How long do political ads stay in the Ad Library?
For the US, Meta says these ads enter the Ad Library for seven years.
Can a business ad count as a political ad?
Yes, if it's about a social issue, election or politics. Meta says ads whose main purpose is selling a product or service may not count, and publishes examples to check against.
