Court: AfD must disclose information about advertising spots on social media - German court forces AfD to reveal 2021 election social media ad secrets
Germany's far-right AfD party has been ordered to hand over details of its 2021 federal election social media campaigns. The ruling comes after a legal challenge by the party was rejected by the Berlin Administrative Court. The decision requires full transparency on ad content, targeting methods, and audience reach under EU data protection laws.
The case began with a complaint from a Facebook user who claimed an AfD ad had improperly accessed their data. The ad in question targeted men aged 11 to 48 with an interest in the FDP, raising concerns about how personal information was being used for political advertising.
Berlin's data protection commissioner then demanded that the AfD provide comprehensive records of its 2021 election campaigns. This included details on ad content, the number of people reached, and the specific criteria used to target voters. The AfD initially resisted, filing a lawsuit to block the request. The court dismissed the party's arguments, ruling that full disclosure was necessary to investigate political targeting on social media. Judges emphasised that such transparency was required under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The decision highlights growing scrutiny over how political parties use data to influence voters online. While the ruling focuses on the 2021 election, available information on the AfD's social media strategies remains limited. Public records mainly cover later activities, such as influencer networks and events organised in 2025. Specific details on algorithms, platforms, and data sources used in 2021 have not yet been made public.
The AfD must now submit the requested data to Berlin's data protection authorities. The ruling sets a precedent for how political parties handle voter data in digital campaigns. It also reinforces the need for stricter oversight of targeted advertising ahead of future elections.
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