The French Parliament adopted a bipartisan bill on Thursday to regulate social media influencers’ activities in a bid to curb the promotion of dangerous products and trends.

After lawmakers in the National Assembly voted in favour of it on Wednesday, 342 senators from across the political spectrum voted to pass the bill introduced by socialist MP Arthur Delaporte and Stéphane Vojetta, an MP from President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance.

“We can be proud of this unprecedented agreement,” said rapporteur Amel Gacquerre, the senator tasked with presenting the bill in the upper chamber.

Speaking after the vote, Olivia Grégoire, Junior Minister for Commerce, hailed the “commitment of the parliamentarians” and “the quality of this work”.

There are an estimated 150,000 influencers in France, but the actions of some of them have put influencer marketing in line with increasing criticism.

‘Influvoleurs’

Plaintiffs have launched collective actions and a scathing report has been published by the French Fraud Prevention Directorate (DGCCRF).

More surprisingly, the French rapper Booba has been on a digital crusade against those whom he nicknamed “influ-thieves” – “influvoleurs” in French – amplifying the issue through his campaigning on social media.

From the promotion of dangerous products to accusations of fraud, there have been growing calls for the market to be regulated.

Since Wednesday, influencers Illan Castronovo and Simon Castaldi have been ordered to display a message from the DGCCRF on social media warning against some of their content.

Many influencers have a modest audience, but some celebrities with millions of followers can influence consumption behaviors, especially among young people.

“Influencers will continue to operate. The ‘influ-thieves’ will always exist but will know that the law is there to punish them”, Delaporte said.

The text “will protect consumers, especially the younger ones,” added Vojetta.

What does the law change for influencers?

The text proposes to legally define influencers as “individuals or legal entities who, for a fee, mobilise their notoriety with their audience” to promote goods and services online.

It prohibits the promotion of certain practices – such as cosmetic surgery and therapeutic abstention – and prohibits or heavily regulates the promotion of several medical devices.

It also bans the promotion of products containing nicotine.

It tackles sports betting and gambling: influencers will no longer be able to promote subscriptions to sports forecasts, and the promotion of money games will be limited to platforms that technically restrict access to minors.

The penalties for non-compliance can go up to two years in prison and a fine of €300,000.

The law also bans staged scenes with animals whose ownership is prohibited.

Promotional images – of cosmetics, for example – must disclose whether they have been retouched or use a filter making them more attractive.

Several senators have emphasised the need to strengthen the resources of regulatory authorities in the future, including those of the DGCCRF and the Financial Markets Authority.

“There are many sheriffs and they must have the means to work properly,” Gacquerre said. This comes after the economy minister, Bruno Le Maire, warned last month that the sector “could not be the Wild West”.

Who else does it affect?

Influencers’ agents will also be regulated. A written contract will be mandatory when the amounts involved exceed a certain threshold. The text also includes measures to hold platforms accountable.

While many successful influencers operate from abroad, such as in Dubai, the text aims to require those operating from outside the European Union, Switzerland, or the European Economic Area to take out civil liability insurance within the EU.

The stated goal is to create a fund to compensate potential victims. They will also have to designate a legal representative in the EU.

In late March, the Union of Influence Professions and Content Creators (Umicc), which recently began representing agencies in the sector, praised “commendable and essential proposals”.

However, they warned lawmakers about the risk of “discriminating or over-regulating” certain actors.

TikTok has announced a new slate of programming for National Indigenous History Month, which will see the platform highlight a range of Indigenous creators and businesses through various surfaces in the app.

First off, TikTok’s launching its first-ever Indigenous TikTok ‘Visionary Voices’ List, featuring a range of creators and businesses that are making a positive impact, both on and off TikTok.

TikTok will showcase the chosen creators in a dedicated #IndigenousTikTok content hub, which will include various elements throughout the month.

As per TikTok:

“From performers, powwow dancers and artists to makers, style icons, oral storytellers and writers, the Indigenous community on TikTok share their rich culture and traditions across our global platform – and we are committed to amplifying their contributions. Throughout June, our #IndigenousTikTok in-app programming hub will spotlight creators and organizations that demonstrate the rich cultural heritage, creativity, impact and ongoing activism of the community.”

TikTok has become an important cultural hub, helping to spark new trends and movements, which is why it’s important for the app to focus on specific communities, and help showcase their culture, as a means to broaden understanding and learning.

The more that we understand about the origins and history of each element, the better we can all engage in such events, and it’s good to see TikTok continuing to find ways to highlight such in the app.

You can learn more about TikTok’s Indigenous History Month programming here.

By recent projections outlined by Oberlo, the social media commerce market is expected to reach $2.9 trillion by 2026. If you want to grow your e-commerce business using social media, it may be important to show off your products from new angles and advertise the positive work culture with fun team get-togethers that capture the spirit of the Father’s Day season. It could even make a great gift for Dad if he’s into taking great photos or flying a remote-controlled gadget.

A beginner-friendly drone that may be a wise investment at this stage is the Global Drone 4K Platinum Version for $79.97 (reg. $119) until June 11.

Grow your social media business with the help of a drone.

Whether you want a new angle on one of your products or an action shot of a job well done, this drone could be the way you do it. The Global Drone comes with a 4K HD Camera you can use to get a live view from above streamed directly to your phone. Snap photos or record videos as you zip, flip, and roll through the air.

If your business is running a company event outside, make sure to snap a few sky-high photos for your social media. You could even fly your drone from the comfort of a shady tent during a Father’s Day picnic. Activate altitude hold mode if you want a steady shot from above.

The Global Drone is beginner-friendly and has simple controls, so you (nor your dad) don’t need to be an expert to use it. Just charge the 1,800mAh battery and hit the button for one-key take off. Once you’re airborne, you can use the controller or your phone to direct your flight. If you want to increase your speed, just switch to a quicker flight mode. Once it’s time to land, hit the one-key landing button and fold your drone for storage.

Invest in a drone for your business or gift one to Dad.

Whether you want to increase your potential posts on social media or give your dad a great new hobby, then the sky’s the limit when you have a quadcopter.

During the Father’s Day sale until June 11 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific, get the Global Drone 4K Platinum Version on sale for $79.97 (reg. $119). No coupon code required.

Prices subject to change.