Influencers Illan Castronovo and Simon Castaldi pinned for “misleading commercial practices”

2023-06-01 21:46:32

“Name and shame”, name and shame in good French. By forcing influencers to post a message on their social networks for 30 days because of their “deceptive commercial practices” since Wednesday, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) hits hard.

First victims: Illan Castronovo and Simon Castaldi. The two influencers published on their respective Instagram profiles on Wednesday posts written by the DGCCRF which relate to “misleading commercial practices” which they have used on social networks.

“On his Instagram account and Telegram channels, (Illan Castronovo) claims of a sports betting advice service that it increases the chances of winning at gambling, gives the impression that a sports betting service payment in money of part of the balance of the Personal Training Account in return for a simple registration for a training course is lawful when it is not and does not indicate the commercial intention of its publications for advertising purposes “, Details in a long list the DGCCRF.

“I am not an influencer”, defends Illan Castronovo

The nearly 30-year-old influencer explained himself on the social network from his swimming pool after the publication of these lines: “I have been on the networks for more than 7 years and even if it has been more than two years that I no longer do product placement, the DGCCRF has been controlling us for a long time,” he says.

“I made three mistakes that I recognize and that I assume. I was not fined, but I got a reminder. I find it very good that we are supervised, and if I had been supervised earlier, I might not have made these mistakes, “he continues in his video, saying that he is” not an influencer.

For his part, Simon Castaldi was content to publish in story and on his Instagram account the message that he is obliged to relay following the injunction of the DGCCRF without making further comments.

He is accused of not having indicated “neither the commercial intention of his publications, yet directly related to the promotion of goods or services, nor the brands for which he makes these communications. These practices, which are similar to hidden advertising, are misleading commercial practices within the meaning of the consumer code, ”insists the DGCCRF.

The profession of influencer is now recognized and framed by law, after the senators and deputies agreed on a bill which “will make it possible to support the professionalization of the sector” of influence, “and to sanction the actors ill-intentioned”, underlined the Senate on May 25. Bercy hailed a “major step forward” in the digital economy sector.