French parliament unanimously passed a law that could jail digital influencers

By João Pedro Magalhães

The French Parliament approved the bill to regulate influencers’ actions in social networks last Thursday (1).

With the support of all 577 deputies and 356 senators in the country, the new legislation limits the content and products that can be sponsored on digital platforms and disseminated by users.

According to the proposal, plastic surgeries and other procedures or medications that depend on the authorization of a health professional may not be advertised.

Sports betting, investments in cryptocurrencies, and other high-risk investments have also suffered advertising bans, as have tobacco and nicotine items.

In addition, the promotion of gambling will be restricted to platforms that can prohibit access by minors.

Anyone who fails to comply with the new rules for the dissemination of content may be sentenced to up to two years in prison and the payment of a fine of €300,000.

Another new requirement is that social network users must always be warned when exposed to images or videos produced by artificial intelligence or edited with a filter.

Aligned with the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), digital platforms must also implement alert buttons and rapidly remove content reported by the authorities.

Another relevant change is that influencers who reside outside the country but address the French public will have to appoint representatives who reside in France, subject to French law.

In addition, the bill determines that the state will promote awareness campaigns about the abuses of digital influencers and provide a report, within 6 months, with proposed resources to combat fraud.

With information from Brasil Sem Medo

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