VNLOK Intensifies Scrutiny of Meta After European Commission Ad-Verification Study

VNLOK is intensifying regulatory pressure on Meta and other major technology companies after a European Commission-commissioned study identified systemic weaknesses in ad verification that enable online marketing fraud. The report, prepared by Open Evidence and Spark Legal, found six specific verticals abused by criminal networks and highlighted online gambling among the sectors most frequently exploited. VNLOK is urging EU lawmakers to introduce mandatory verification protocols and enhanced filtering to stop unlicensed operators.

Study findings and platform failures

The research, commissioned by the European Commission and executed by Open Evidence and Spark Legal, identified six primary verticals commonly manipulated by criminal networks for digital scams: online gambling, financial investments, personal romance, health products, and related sectors. The report concluded that major digital platforms, including Meta, have "let unlicensed operators target users with no valid local licence; fake apps placed on legitimate app stores."

Google has responded by updating mandatory certification criteria to require a proven record of compliance and strict policy health, the study noted. Meta, by contrast, remains under heightened international scrutiny because research and regulatory monitoring have repeatedly exposed unregulated casino promotions across Facebook and Instagram.

Dutch reaction and VNLOK's demands

The strongest public reaction has come from the Netherlands. The Dutch gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), estimated that more than 4,600 illegal gambling advertisements appeared on Meta's platforms in April 2026. Building on a legal summons it served against Meta earlier in 2026, the Dutch online gambling trade association VNLOK is pressing for legislative change at EU level.

VNLOK is formally petitioning European lawmakers to amend existing rules to require advanced advertiser licence verification and sophisticated filtering tools designed to intercept covert black-market campaigns. VNLOK Chairman Björn Fuchs said:

"This study clearly shows how enormous the fraud and scam challenges are on very large online platforms and search engines. This ties in directly to our court case against Meta and its responsibilities based on the Digital Services Act."

VNLOK links its legal action against Meta to obligations under the Digital Services Act.

International regulatory alignment and cooperation

Regulatory concerns are not confined to Europe. Latin American authorities have also urged tech platforms to curb unlawful gambling promotion. Lotería de la Ciudad (LOTBA), the regulatory authority for the City of Buenos Aires, has signalled plans to work more closely with Meta and Google to block unauthorised advertisements.

Some constructive engagement exists. Meta has shown willingness to cooperate with licensed operators to understand black-market dynamics, with recent collaborative initiatives alongside Åland’s state-owned operator Paf. VNLOK maintains that, despite such bilateral efforts, platform-level verification and filtering obligations should be mandated by law to prevent repeated exploitation.

What VNLOK wants next

VNLOK's legislative proposals seek three core outcomes:

1. Mandatory advanced verification of advertiser licences before campaigns run.

2. Deployment of sophisticated detection tools to flag covert or disguised scam campaigns.

3. Clear legal accountability for platforms that repeatedly permit unlicensed gambling promotion.

The association has asked EU legislators to translate the study's findings into binding measures rather than voluntary practice updates by platforms.