Monetizing Sanctioned Pages: Why Platform Profit Models Demand Deeper Scrutiny

WHAT TO FIX, Digitally Right, Myanmar Internet Project

Meta’s monetization programs have allowed entities under international sanctions to remain eligible for revenue-sharing partnerships, raising concerns about compliance and oversight. In several documented cases, Facebook pages affiliated with sanctioned state actors, military entities, and individuals accused of serious human rights violations have continued to generate or promote monetized content despite restrictions imposed by the EU, the United States, and other jurisdictions.

This session drew from the WHAT TO FIX monetization archive and unpacked how platform design, enforcement gaps, and opaque governance mechanisms have enabled sanctioned entities in the EU, Bangladesh, and beyond to benefit from Meta’s monetization tools.