Meta to remove ‘sensitive’ ads linked to race, religion from Facebook, Instagram

Facebook’s parent company Meta has announced that it will remove sensitive ads targeting options related to health, race or ethnicity, political affiliation, religion or sexual orientation starting January 19, 2022.
It is important to note that the interest targeting options being removed is not based on people’s physical characteristics or personal attributes, but instead on things like people’s interactions with content on the platform.
“Starting January 19, 2022 we will remove Detailed Targeting options that relate to topics people may perceive as sensitive, such as options referencing causes, organisations, or public figures that relate to health, race or ethnicity, political affiliation, religion, or sexual orientation,” the company said in a statement.
According to the company, it has heard concerns from experts that targeting options like these could be used in ways that lead to negative experiences for people in underrepresented groups.