At Advertising Week Europe in London Wednesday, Meta’s head of creative strategy for the Nordics, Rich Kivell, warned that brands are treating WhatsApp as a “utility pipe” rather than “a canvas for expression”.
02 Aug 2026 | Jack Benjamin
Analysis: Ballooning AI costs will need to be balanced with real business results. Meta, without a cloud business, is likely to have the hardest time proving the value of its spending spree.
Social media platforms are “primary pathway[s]” for organisers of human trafficking efforts to recruit victims in support of a wide-ranging online scam industry centred in South-East Asia. Facebook in particular was “the most widely used platform” for trafficking recruitment, with moderation efforts described by victims as insufficient.
A spokesperson for IAB UK said it aims “to work with the broadest possible membership to help make digital advertising better for everyone and address shared industry challenges.”
At LEAD, Meta’s Rima Amin disputed a November Reuters report of an internal document that said Meta earned 10% of its 2024 revenue from scam ads. The lower figure would still account for $5bn to $7bn in revenue.
The board features the likes of Google, Meta, WPP, TikTok and Mail Metro Media and signals a push to address digital measurement challenges.
Welcome to The Brief for Thursday 18 December, The Media Leader’s round-up of media news.
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Welcome to the Brief for Friday 12 December, The Media Leader’s round-up of media news.
Welcome to the Brief for Thursday 11 December, The Media Leader’s round-up of media news.