> enforcing a broad ban to ensure they comply.

that _really_ doesn't seem what is happening

an AD for a theater play is by no standard political advertisement

Political advertisement in the regulations context is reasonable clearly defined.

An AD for a theater play is in general very clearly _not_ covered by it.

To add to it: Civil rights & feminism (in it's official non hijacked definition, aka. equal fair treatment of man and women) are fundamental rights in the EU, something the regulation very clearly states it doesn't want to impeach on. So arguments that you could accidentally misread the regulation to include banning _non-political advertisement about artistic work covering fundamental rights are a bit absurd_.

Anywhere here is the definition of political advertisement in given regulation:

> political advertising’ means the preparation, placement, promotion, publication, delivery or dissemination, by any means, of a message, normally provided for remuneration or through in-house activities or as part of a _political advertising campaign_:

> (a)by, for or on behalf of a _political actor_, unless it is of a purely private or a purely commercial nature; or

> (b) which is liable and designed to _influence the outcome of an election or referendum_, voting behaviour or a legislative or regulatory process, at Union, national, regional or local level;

(emphasis mine)

So to put it simple: Meta is engaging in censure.

Stretching the term political to include more or less everything (like any topic people have opinions about a politician might speak about) is IMHO a pretty dishonest misinterpretation, especially given that it isn't even everything, but "everything Meta doesn't want to get involved with due to the current political environment".

At best this misinterpretation is due to laziness, at worst pushed by malicious actors in the US.

Given that Meta is a US company and the currently people in power there find this topics quit unpleasant and Metas long history of not faithfully complying with law and allowing all kind of ADs this looks very bad for them.

"Designed to influence…voting behaviour" is incredibly vague. A play with political undertones could absolutely fit that definition. I understand that's not what was intended by the law, but if someone was advertising plays with support for policies you didn't like, you likely would be calling that political.

More relevantly, a broad, vague policy means an EU regulator can prosecute Meta whenever they feel like it if Meta does not go overboard.