Facebook has removed Conservative Party online adverts which used edited versions of BBC content as it violated the corporation’s intellectual property rights.
The broadcaster said the adverts which appeared on the social media platform were a “completely unacceptable” use of BBC content and “distorted” its output.
One of the adverts the BBC complained about included an edited clip of BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg saying “pointless delay to Brexit”, followed by newsreader Huw Edwards stating “another Brexit delay”.
Edwards tweeted on Sunday: “Good. My thoughts on this kind of stunt are unprintable.”
In a statement, Facebook said: “We have removed this content following a valid intellectual property claim from the rights holder, the BBC.
“Whenever we receive valid IP claims against content on the platform, in advertising or elsewhere, we act in accordance with our policies and take action as required.”
A BBC spokesperson said: “We welcome the decision.”
The Conservative Party said: “All political parties make use of BBC content. We will be asking the BBC if in the interests of fairness they intend to complain about other political parties who use their content.”
Last month, the Conservatives edited a video of Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer to make him appear unable to answer a question on Brexit.
In the minute-long video which was posted on the party’s Twitter account, Sir Keir was questioned on ITV’s Good Morning Britain by Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid over Labour’s Brexit policy.
The video ends with Sir Keir staring at the camera after being asked by Mr Morgan: “Why would the EU give you a good deal if they know you are going to actively campaign against it?”
However, in the original interview Sir Keir replied to the host.