Deputies aim to put an end to deceptive schemes and the advertising of dubious products.

The National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament, passed on March 30th - with the vote of all deputies present at the session - a bill amending legislation pertaining the activity of influencers on social networks. 

The new changes, which are viewed favorably in the Senate, the upper house, more clearly define the status of the "paid influencer" - a person who disseminates advertising content about products or services in exchange for money or other benefits, using their personal reputation on social media, aka the number of followers. 

Meanwhile, the government is preparing its own amendments, which could be introduced in the final document.

According to authorities, the changes are necessary to protect citizens from the increasing number of schemes involving influencers, who mislead their audience by promoting products or services that can affect people's mental or physical health, but do not take responsibility for the consequences.

Doctors have reported cases of anorexia, bulimia, depression, and other conditions in patients who followed influencers' recommendations regarding cosmetic surgeries, cryptocurrency trading, or purchased counterfeit products. Therefore, deputies want to partially prohibit influencers from promoting financial services, betting and gambling, illicit and counterfeit goods, establishing a fine of 300,000 euros or a prison sentence of up to 6 months for violating the provisions of the law.

At the same time, influencers will have to mention on the pages they manage if they use digital filters or other methods of altering (e.g. photoshop) their figure or body or if they use techniques to exaggerate the content to enhance its attractiveness.

The French authorities also want to bring more transparency to influencers' activities, so they will be required to warn users about potential risks associated with promoted products and services, acknowledge that they receive money for services, and, in some cases, disclose information about clients. They will also have to refuse to advertise products that are not certified at the European Union level.