Understanding the Meta Ad Library: Ad Search Scope, Retention Periods, and Data Limitations
The Meta Ad Library is a publicly searchable ad database that lets anyone view, without logging in, ad creatives currently running on its apps, their start dates, and the platforms where they appear. For ads about politics and social issues, it provides spending and impression data in ranges. Ads in the EU also disclose targeting, reach, beneficiaries, and payers. Ads about politics and social issues are kept for seven years, EU ads for one year, and other ads are searchable only while they are running.