Parliament to adopt a law to better regulate influencers

Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP 09:57, June 01, 2023

MPs voted unanimously on Wednesday on a cross-party bill to regulate the criticised influencer sector, ahead of a likely final adoption in the Senate on Thursday. Accusations of fraud or scams, promotion of ineffective or dangerous remedies, non-explicit partnerships: the actions of some of the influencers have placed the entire environment in the sights of authorities and legislators.

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The 'influencers' will always exist but will know that the law is there to punish them."

"Commercial influence is too often used to circumvent the bans on advertising," regretted one of the authors of the text, MP Stéphane Vojetta (related to Renaissance, presidential camp). "Our Parliament is capable of the worst as well as the best," said Socialist co-author Arthur Delaporte, referring to the very strong tensions that marked the examination earlier in committee of a bill to repeal retirement at 64, finally unraveled.

"The best thing is what we're doing tonight," he continued. "Influencers will continue to practice. The 'influencers' will always exist but will know that the law is there to punish them," he insisted. Their joint initiative is also supported by the government: "Bravo for your work," greeted in the hemicycle the Minister Delegate for Trade Olivia Grégoire. Their text, adopted unanimously (194 voters), as at each stage of its parliamentary shuttle, plans to prohibit the promotion of certain practices, such as cosmetic surgery, or "therapeutic abstention". It prohibits or severely regulates the promotion of several medical devices.

It prohibits the promotion of products containing nicotine, and recalls the submission to the Evin law. But the association Addictions France regrets that it does not go further by prohibiting the promotion of alcohol. The text prevents the promotion of subscriptions to sports predictions, limits the promotion of games of chance and money to the only platforms that prohibit access to video to minors.

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Up to 300,000 euros fine

In case of breach, it provides for penalties of up to two years in prison and a fine of 300,000 euros. It also intends to supervise "agents of influencers". A written contract will be mandatory when the sums involved exceed a certain threshold. Hoping to reach influencers operating from abroad, in Dubai in particular, the text requires those who practice from outside the EU, Switzerland, or the European Economic Area, to take out civil insurance in the EU, to compensate victims. They will also have to appoint a legal representative in the EU. A final vote is scheduled for Thursday afternoon in the Senate.