Extract ad data from Facebook Ad Library
Learn how to scrape Facebook Ad Library ads using Kotlin. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process, from setup to implementation.
First, you'll need a ScrapeCreators API key to authenticate your requests.
Sign up at app.scrapecreators.com to get your free API key with 100 requests.
Make sure you have the following installed:
OkHttp is an HTTP client for Kotlin/Java
implementation "com.squareup.okhttp3:okhttp:4.9.3"Now let's make a request to the Facebook Ad Library API using Kotlin. Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your actual API key.
import java.net.http.HttpClient
import java.net.http.HttpRequest
import java.net.http.HttpResponse
import java.net.URI
import java.net.URLEncoder
import java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets
class Scraper {
companion object {
private const val API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY"
private const val BASE_URL = "https://api.scrapecreators.com"
private const val ENDPOINT_PATH = "/v1/facebook/adLibrary/ad"
@JvmStatic
fun main(args: Array<String>) {
try {
val result = scrape()
println("Response: $result")
} catch (e: Exception) {
println("Error: ${e.message}")
}
}
fun scrape(): String {
val client = HttpClient.newHttpClient()
// Build query parameters
val params = mapOf(
"id" to "702369045530963",
"get_transcript" to "false",
"trim" to "false"
)
val queryString = params.entries.joinToString("&") { (key, value) ->
"${key}=${URLEncoder.encode(value, StandardCharsets.UTF_8)}"
}
val url = "${BASE_URL}${ENDPOINT_PATH}?${queryString}"
val request = HttpRequest.newBuilder()
.uri(URI.create(url))
.header("x-api-key", API_KEY)
.header("Accept", "application/json")
.GET()
.build()
val response = client.send(request, HttpResponse.BodyHandlers.ofString())
if (response.statusCode() == 200) {
return response.body()
} else {
throw RuntimeException("HTTP ${response.statusCode()}: ${response.body()}")
}
}
}
}This endpoint accepts the following parameters:
idRequired(string)Facebook Ad Id
Example: 702369045530963
get_transcriptOptional(boolean)Get the transcript of the ad. This is a new feature, so let me know if its not working how you expected.
Example: false
trimOptional(boolean)Set to true for a trimmed down version of the response
Example: false
Execute your script to test the API connection. You should see a JSON response with Facebook Ad Library ads data.
✅ Success: You should receive a structured JSON response containing the requested data.
Here's an example of the JSON response you'll receive:
{
"adid": 0,
"adArchiveID": 702369045530963,
"archiveTypes": [],
"categories": [
0
],
"containsDigitallyCreatedMedia": false,
"containsSensitiveContent": false,
"collationCount": null,
"collationID": null,
"currency": "",
"endDate": 1747983600,
"entityType": "person_profile",
"fevInfo": null,
"finServAdData": {
"is_deemed_finserv": false,
"is_limited_delivery": false
},
"gatedType": "eligible",
"hasUserReported": false,
"hiddenSafetyData": false,
"hideDataStatus": "NONE",
"impressionsWithIndex": {
"impressionsText": null,
"impressionsIndex": -1
},
"isAAAEligible": true,
"isAdAccountActioned": false,
"isActive": false,
"isProfilePage": false,
"pageID": 166258896830103,
"pageInfo": null,
"pageIsDeleted": false,
"pageName": "Porto Montenegro",
"politicalCountries": [],
"reachEstimate": null,
"regionalRegulationData": {
"finserv": {
"is_deemed_finserv": false,
"is_limited_delivery": false
},
"tw_anti_scam": {
"is_limited_delivery": false
}
},
"reportCount": null,
"snapshot": {
"ad_creative_id": 1066536401993375,
"cards": [],
"body_translations": {},
"byline": null,
"caption": "www.portomontenegro.com",
"cta_text": "Learn more",
"dynamic_item_flags": {},
"dynamic_versions": null,
"edited_snapshots": [],
"effective_authorization_category": "NONE",
"event": [],
"extra_images": [],
"extra_links": [],
"extra_texts": [],
"extra_videos": [],
"instagram_shopping_products": [],
"display_format": "video",
"title": null,
"link_description": null,
"link_url": "https://www.portomontenegro.com/attractions-events/boka-place-grand-opening/",
"page_welcome_message": null,
"images": [],
"videos": [
{
"video_hd_url": "https://video-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t42.1790-2/491479560_702369072197627_5775200790449116407_n.?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hwX4c3kvwLsQ7kNvwFl2d_Q&_nc_oc=AdlG8xo51B_VLh8mOjXqjG0Mad3sb7Q-j-8ZZzP-s_j3sHdDkDUJwrrmYd7R9UyfaOA&_nc_zt=28&_nc_ht=video-lga3-1.xx&_nc_gid=PBbgsjxhy8iorGrJjaavZw&oh=00_AfKBmgSKPootHiGNb9xgL2zB15Omax_hVTaa2bzRsjzn_w&oe=6843812F",
"video_sd_url": "https://video-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t42.1790-2/499448662_702369075530960_5981246750517589666_n.?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cg4ziP_jjpkQ7kNvwEd7Ymr&_nc_oc=AdlMwa_AeLm6TknZdG_S5L26DNIi_LeoUM_iw58qxM3z4hkKIeJOinIjGuvP4T1zl8I&_nc_zt=28&_nc_ht=video-lga3-1.xx&_nc_gid=PBbgsjxhy8iorGrJjaavZw&oh=00_AfK-DFpMEBShiZb3JUsjv_0EAC7saMqut0dI5fJGTAK8hQ&oe=6843A9D6",
"watermarked_video_sd_url": "",
"watermarked_video_hd_url": "",
"video_preview_image_url": "https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/499149696_1837810423819060_5242520759436861939_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=h-Gc3OVWRsQQ7kNvwENP9GF&_nc_oc=AdnHZtuO7JE08Yptly2LO3_sk-XEiw2Dx_ZHE2FyzV8AY1Y-zm24L3Na7ap1rdpO-f8&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&_nc_gid=PBbgsjxhy8iorGrJjaavZw&oh=00_AfKr3Go0i5YNKCoOfapvk0fO7DxfBFYazfPdNnjbBHnnEA&oe=684381BA"
}
],
"creation_time": 1747908203,
"page_id": 598631456674530,
"page_name": "Porto Montenegro Experience",
"page_profile_picture_url": "https://scontent-lga3-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/498588182_739875508369121_8639482247199838788_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CL4JqnVkRzgQ7kNvwEVYWpq&_nc_oc=AdkdPEIQctV4dKggCb8YIFBwzdb5ghgYdYUDAEqQ8mcGtCVOr3QZZ_-kg9lil60EMOg&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-3.xx&_nc_gid=PBbgsjxhy8iorGrJjaavZw&oh=00_AfIJsuOZfJyoWeHNlOp18Nn7Y1xmM79egJLCXKItT0-qjQ&oe=68439344",
"page_categories": {
"197251360301109": "Marina"
},
"page_entity_type": "person_profile",
"page_is_profile_page": false,
"instagram_actor_name": "Porto Montenegro Experience",
"instagram_profile_pic_url": "https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/499922917_1078294804160843_5583552140592065526_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EWHzIxDAk20Q7kNvwFgPQrS&_nc_oc=AdmbvB4ypz9F2BrlQ7FcUMcvfR5JvoCggHJ1a4Ntu3ZXQ8KoiUCOTCYzvZ1z6gYiIJo&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&_nc_gid=PBbgsjxhy8iorGrJjaavZw&oh=00_AfJd0SOIGy12aEqb4GS4Kz86YOdg3NpQ5OL9W-RRnBHPBQ&oe=6843A343",
"instagram_url": "",
"instagram_handle": "",
"is_reshared": false,
"version": 3,
"body": "Reflections ripple, light gathers,<br /> and tomorrow brings a new rhythm to the square. <br /> <br /> One day until the Grand Opening of Boka Place.",
"brazil_tax_id": null,
"branded_content": {
"page_id": 166258896830103,
"page_name": "Porto Montenegro",
"page_profile_picture_url": "https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/499920502_2382687582132053_334434608727983440_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zJEq2b_i4xwQ7kNvwEhuat_&_nc_oc=AdnryrPnSzR5YCB7wO-EVqpswUJ2l8xDDXiCjJN6b4rhZJ2c8809t5QTDa7OwUq9ueU&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&_nc_gid=PBbgsjxhy8iorGrJjaavZw&oh=00_AfLZibsXYNxUNvp9LT4tOJWbf-3uFIkWN4e5ke-s5FqGdw&oe=68438B15",
"page_categories": {
"197251360301109": "Marina"
},
"current_page_name": "Porto Montenegro",
"page_profile_uri": "https://www.facebook.com/portomontenegrotivat/",
"page_is_deleted": false
},
"current_page_name": "Porto Montenegro Experience",
"disclaimer_label": null,
"page_like_count": 1,
"page_profile_uri": "https://www.facebook.com/61575286107814/",
"page_is_deleted": false,
"root_reshared_post": null,
"cta_type": "LEARN_MORE",
"additional_info": null,
"ec_certificates": null,
"country_iso_code": null,
"instagram_branded_content": {
"instagram_bc_sponsor_id": "17841400741682419",
"instagram_bc_sponsor_name": "porto_montenegro"
}
},
"spend": null,
"startDate": 1747897200,
"stateMediaRunLabel": null,
"publisherPlatform": [
"facebook",
"instagram",
"audience_network"
],
"menuItems": [],
"targetedOrReachedCountries": [],
"totalActiveTime": 41782,
"url": "https://www.facebook.com/ads/library?id=702369045530963",
"startDateString": "2025-05-22T07:00:00.000Z",
"endDateString": "2025-05-23T07:00:00.000Z",
"aaa_info": {
"targets_eu": true,
"location_audience": [
{
"name": "Dubrovnik, Croatia",
"num_obfuscated": 0,
"type": "CITY",
"excluded": false
}
],
"gender_audience": "All",
"age_audience": {
"min": 18,
"max": 65
},
"eu_total_reach": 1657,
"age_country_gender_reach_breakdown": [
{
"country": "HR",
"age_gender_breakdowns": [
{
"age_range": "45-54",
"male": 101,
"female": 77,
"unknown": 4
},
{
"age_range": "55-64",
"male": 55,
"female": 55,
"unknown": 1
},
{
"age_range": "65+",
"male": 37,
"female": 29,
"unknown": null
},
{
"age_range": "18-24",
"male": 161,
"female": 152,
"unknown": 7
},
{
"age_range": "25-34",
"male": 374,
"female": 238,
"unknown": 8
},
{
"age_range": "35-44",
"male": 196,
"female": 133,
"unknown": 5
}
]
}
],
"payer_beneficiary_data": [
{
"payer": "Porto Montenegro",
"beneficiary": "Porto Montenegro"
}
],
"has_violating_payer_beneficiary": false,
"is_ad_taken_down": false
}
}Check that your response includes the expected fields:
adid(number)adArchiveID(number)archiveTypes(object)categories(object)containsDigitallyCreatedMedia(boolean)Implement comprehensive error handling and retry logic for failed requests. Log errors properly for debugging.
Cache responses when possible to reduce API calls and improve performance. Consider data freshness requirements.
Never expose your API key in client-side code. Use environment variables and secure key management practices.
When scraping multiple ads, consider batching requests to maximize throughput while staying within rate limits.
Use asynchronous processing in Kotlin to handle multiple requests concurrently and improve overall performance.
Analyze Facebook Ad Library ads to understand market trends, competitor analysis, and audience insights.
Track performance metrics, engagement rates, and content trends across Facebook Ad Library ads.
Identify potential customers and business opportunities throughFacebook Ad Library data analysis.
Check your API key is correct and properly formatted in the x-api-key header.
You ran out of credits and need to buy more.
The resource might not exist or be private.
Temporary server issue. Implement retry logic with exponential backoff.
ScrapeCreators offers 100 free API calls to get started. After that, pricing starts at $10 for 5k requests with volume discounts available.
Scraping publicly available data is fair game, and we only collect public data. So anything that you can see in an incognito browser is what we collect.
There is no rate limit! So you can scrape as fast as you want!
All API responses are returned in JSON format, making it easy to integrate with any programming language or application.
Yes! This tutorial focuses on core Kotlin HTTP concepts that work with any framework. The API calls remain the same regardless of your specific Kotlin setup.
For large datasets, implement pagination, use streaming responses where available, and consider storing data in a database for efficient querying.
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