French law offers jail terms or social media bans for influencers who promote plastic surgery or fail to label filtered photos

A new law under consideration in France would apply strict enforcement measures against social media influencers who fail to disclose retouched photos or encourage paid partnerships for certain industries like plastic surgery, the authorities said New York Post.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire proposes penalties for violators of the new rules requiring filtered or retouched photos or videos to be labeled as such, and bans “any advertising of cosmetic surgery… as part of a paid partnership.” “

The promotion of gambling and cryptocurrency through paid partnerships is also reportedly banned.

Violators face up to two years in prison and fines of over $30,000. If found guilty, they would be banned from social media platforms.

“This is the first time in Europe that a full framework to regulate influencers is being put in place,” Le Maire told French Outlet France info.

“We won’t miss a thing,” he noted, adding that governing bodies should not discriminate against or over-regulate the social media sector.

“The same rules must apply to influencers as to traditional media,” and the Internet “is not the Wild West,” the minister continued.

France attempted to pass a similar law in 2017, requiring all commercial photos to flag retouching or edits that make a model’s body appear thinner (or thicker) and requiring a disclaimer for “photography retouchée” (retouched photo).

The Health Secretary at the time said popular imagery would promote “unattainable ideals of beauty” and that the idea was to “prevent anoxeria in young people”.

In the United States, social media platforms are coming under increased scrutiny as journalists are banned from Twitter and a federal ban on TikTok is under discussion.

Lawmakers worried Chinese app is stealing from Americans user datawhile critics of the proposed legislation say it will allow the government to seize more power and censor Americans.

According to Politico.eu, French President Emmanuel Macron has one approval rating of just 31% and a rejection rate of 68%.

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