The social media big Meta, proprietor of Facebook and Instagram, was fined by the Italian Communications Regulatory Authority (AGCOM). The firm has to pay a superb of €5.85 million for violating the nation’s legal guidelines about playing promoting.
Fine for betting and gaming advertisements
The nation determined to challenge a superb to the trade big, which is clearly a big escalation when it comes to conducting the legal guidelines and regulatory actions issued by the state lately.
The AGCOM discovered varied betting and gaming promotional content material marketed on 13 Facebook profiles and 5 Instagram ones, 18 in complete. Since each Facebook and Instagram are owned by the identical firm, Meta, the corporate acquired fined.
But that’s not all – additional investigation revealed 32 visible posts, each video and pictures, that marketed betting and gaming actions. Since Meta supplies varied promoting providers and it isn’t simply the platform to show your personal content material, it’s accountable for the violation.
AGCOM said that the corporate is conscious of the truth that betting and playing advertisements are unlawful, however regardless of that it permitted the problematic advertisements.
In complete, 18 accounts are flagged, however in accordance to AGCOM, Meta is accountable for solely 5 of them. After the AGCOM flagged the problematic advertisements, the corporate took measures to cease promoting and proper the problem. Also, after the regulator flagged the account, Meta blocked 11 of them.
But all these steps weren’t sufficient – the corporate had to pay a superb anyway. Apart from the penalty, Meta acquired an official discover and a take-down order for all advertisements in query.
Strict guidelines
Italy has strict guidelines when it comes to the regulation of drawback playing and playing dependancy. Back in July 2018, the state issued a Dignity Decree, a decree that helped stop and resolve the problems associated to the matter, and Meta violated that decree.
According to the doc, all varieties of betting and playing advertisements are prohibited on each social media and different mediums, reminiscent of sports activities staff jerseys, stadiums, and different media platforms.
Meta isn’t the one firm that lately acquired fined as a result of of betting and gaming advertisements. Both YouTube and Twitch acquired fined this month. AGCOM issued a superb of €2.5 million to YouTube, and Twitch had to pay €900.000 for comparable violations.
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) disagrees with Italy’s strict guidelines since it could actually drive the businesses into the quickly rising offshore market.
Source: Hogg, Lea, “Meta fined by Italian Regulatory Authority for gambling ad violation”. SiGMA. January 2, 2024.