Illustrative image: La Tercera.

The Parliament of France, with the unanimous vote in favor of the Senate, definitively adopted on Thursday the new law that will regulate the activity of internet influencers, which contemplates among other points the prohibition of spreading messages about cosmetic surgery or cryptocurrencies and will prevent the commercial promotion of certain products and practices.

The initiative had received the final backing of the National Assembly (lower house) on Wednesday night before passing to the Senate on Thursday. In this legislative instance, the measure obtained the positive vote of the 342 senators present.

The bill, which had come from deputies Arthur Delaporte (of the opposition Socialist Party) and Stéphane Vojetta (of the macronist Renaissance bloc), will give the profession a legal definition and prevent the promotion of certain practices or products considered dangerous or fraudulent.

The most important points of the law that regulates influencers

Those considered internet celebrities in social networks should take into account some points for the creation of their content in their accounts.

These include cosmetic surgery and unproven medical practices, sports betting subscriptions or nicotine-containing products.

Likewise, there will be a serious restriction on the promotion of financial products or cryptocurrencies.

For the time being, alcohol will not be included among the prohibitions.

Contracts, punishments and penalties of up to 6 months in prison

The new law contemplates other aspects of the activity of these internet users, such as the need for contracts from certain amounts of money for their services or the need to have a legal representative within the European Union for those who operate from outside, according to the DW News site.

Influencers who do not respect the regulations may be sentenced to up to six months in prison and a fine of 300,000 euros, according to the text.

The initiative seeks to put an end to the excesses of recent years, with influencers promoting on social networks from complex financial products (in some cases, with accusations of fraud) to remedies to cure cancer without scientific backing.

(Taken from Page 12)