The Italian Communications Authority (Agcom) has imposed a €5.8 million ($6.4 million) fine on Meta (Facebook and Instagram) for violating a law that prohibits advertising for gambling. Agcom stated in a press release that it ‘imposed, on December 20, a fine of €5,850,000 on the US company for violating a decision that prohibits advertisements related to games of chance and gambling.’
The authority noted the presence of indirect content linking promotional or advertising content to games or bets that users may profit from on 18 accounts (5 on Instagram and 13 on Facebook), in addition to 32 advertising contents.
Since 2018, Italian law prohibits ‘any form of advertising related to games or profit-generating bets, as well as gaming facilitators, even if indirect,’ in the media, on billboards, digital platforms, including social media networks.
The major US technology company, representing a key market in Europe, has faced multiple fines, particularly for violating European data protection laws and mishandling data related to minors. The Italian Communications Authority recently fined the platforms YouTube and Twitch for similar reasons.
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