SECTION A OVERVIEW

Haas Digital legal news July 7, 2025 (FR) Issues Tech layoffs, Google AI overviews, bosses vs AI act, Shein 40 mil hit, cookies, geoblocking, more AI

ARPP launches ARPP.Pub/IDcrea (FR) June 3, 2025

ARPP Annual Report 2024 (FR)

Haas Digital legal news June 30, 2025 (FR) Issues Deepseek

investigated, Other AI issues,Green Claims Directive, Tesla France

EU/ international news

Green Claims Directive news Politico 

June 23, 2025. Big wobble as Italy pulls 

Fears EU caves to US on tech rules 

Politico June 23, 2025

EASA Policy Newsletter June 2025 Issues Minors, age verification, AI act, Green Claims Directive, ISO digital marketing standard, political advertising

X Bans Hashtags in Promoted Posts

Social Media Today June 26, 2025

L'actualité juridique numérique de la semaine
Haas April 28, 2025

Direct marketing ad profiling: Recent fines
Reed Smith April 14, 2025 (EN)

CNIL continues to crumble cookies
Bird&Bird April 14, 2025

Responsible Commercial Influence Certificate 2.0
April 14, 2025 (ARPP; FR)

European issues

EU fines Apple €500M, Meta €200M 

Politico April 22, 2025

EU council approves 'stop-the-clock'

Macfarlane's April 24, 2025

EU consumer law plans Lewis Silkin 
Apr 9, 2025. Commissioner report here

GDPR for red tape bonfire within ‘weeks’

Politico April 3, 2025

Omnibus simplification package update

Hogan Lovells April 1, 2025

French Senators Propose Repealing or Postponing the Implementation
of CSRD Requirements Under French Law Squire Patton Boggs. March 5, 2025

European/ international issues

Von der Leyen bonfire of EU’s environmental red tape

Politico Europe. January 29, 2025

Trump orders US to leave WHO. BBC Jan 21, 2025

Zuckerberg urges Trump to stop EU fining US tech

Politico January 11, 2025

EU to re-open, merge CSRD, CS3D & Taxonomy 

REP Nov 20, 2024. Travers Smith here Jan 30, 2025

EC Guidelines on Prohibited AI Practices

Part I. CMS February 7, 2025

National

EN version of below. Lewis Silkin Feb 4, 2025

Cookies : Clarifiez vos bannières!

Haas December 20, 2024 (FR, obvs)

CNIL and Orange and 50 mil euros (FR) Haas Dec 12, 2024

Proposition de loi No. 2129 (FR) Fast fashion bill 

B/g to above here (EN) courtesy Eversheds Sutherland 

New ICC Code (EN) Sept 18, 2024. FR here Nov 7

The 2024 ICC Code is subject to consultation in France, as it represents the 'base' of some 31 ARPP recommendations

Planned completion Summer 2025; formal launch (and translation) of the code scheduled for November 4th

Meanwhile, copy advice is already deploying the 2024 version (EN)

European/ international issues

Easa policy newsletter October 2024

ECJ '30 day' judgement Aldi pricing Sept 24, 2024

Google overturns 1.5 bil fine in EU ad case
AP News Sept 18, 2024. Haas here (FR) Oct 2

New ICC Code September 19, 2024 (see above)

European/ international issues

Commission's call for evidence on DSA minors protection guidelines; closes 30th Sept 2024

EASA on the above and two calls for tender August 8, 2024

Influencer legislation & EU harmonisation

re DADDUE law. K&L Gates June 17, 2024

LOI n° 2024-449 du 21 mai 2024 visant à sécuriser et à réguler l'espace numérique (FR)

Orrick June 4, 2024 on the above 'SREN' law (EN) which inter alia enacts DSA, DMA

European/ international issues 

A new path for Privacy Sandbox on the web July 22, 2024
Google re new third party cookie plans for Chrome. BBC here

The Empco Directive. Taylor Wessing June 27, 2024

Member States implement by March 27, 2026 to take effect by 27 September 2026

Sponsors of athletes in the Paris games (FR) 

EU issues

Privacy Sandbox Update News and Updates

EDPB Opinion On Pay Or OK Consent Models By Large Online Platforms

Ambush marketing: what you need to know ahead of the European summer of sport
Taylor Wessing May 16, 2024
Council Influencer conclusions May 14, 2024

The Greenwashing Directive enters into force: transposition period begins
Liedekerke April 19, 2024

CNIL's Guide to personal data security: new 2024 edition

CNIL March 26, 2024

EU issues

EASA Policy newsletter March 2024

Topics Finance, influencer marketing, green claims 

Agreement reached on the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

Clifford Chance March 28, 2024

French data agency fines Yahoo! €10 million over cookies policy
DAC Beachcroft February 7, 2024

EU issues

EC Influencer sweep results Feb 14, 2024

EDAA launches new solution to DSA ad transparency requirements Feb 17, 2024

EU issues

EASA Jan 2024 update on GDPR and Cookie Pledge

EASA Jan 2024 update on DSA and DMA 

EASA Jan 2024 update on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition

EASA Jan 2024 update on AVMSD

AI and GDPR. Haas November 27, 2023 (FR)

EU: EDAA Unveils New Advanced Advertising Transparency Programme

EU issues:

EASA update on CPC Influencer activity October 11, 2023

Green Glaims Directive update from EASA October 11, 2023

National:

CNIL Fines Groupe Canal+ 600k Hunton Oct 31, 2023

CJEU Landmark Data Protection Ruling for Online and Behavioural Advertising

William Fry/ Lex September 8, 2023

Proposal for a Directive of The European Parliament and of the Council on Consumer Credits

 In May 2023, IMCO published proposed CCD II on which provisional agreement has been reached. Plenary vote September 2023

New ARPP Crypto Assets code (FR) in force October 1, 2023

French parliament adopts a bill to regulate commercial influence (PR, FR) June 1, 2023 

Commentary here (EN) from Addleshaw Goddard. Code of Good Conduct here (FR)

Practical guide to environmental claims (FR) published by DGCCRF and the French Consumer Council May 25, 2023

Total Energies v Greenpeace France. Reuters May 3, 2023

Influenceurs : vers un nouvel encadrement juridique efficace?

Haas Avocats April 20, 2023. Role of DSA incorporated

Proposal for a Directive on Green Claims. March 22, 2023

European Commission press release on the above here 

CNIL priority topics 2023. CNIL March 15, 2023

The CNIL creates an AI Department and begins to work on learning databases

January 26, 2023. From the CNIL. Posted Feb

France leads on specific regulation for influencers and the EU may follow
Osborne Clarke. January 24, 2023. Consultation here closes Jan 31, 2023

Upcoming EU Rules on Green Claims. Covington and Burling LLP/ Lex January 23, 2023

CNIL Fines Apple 8 Million Euros Over Personalized Ads. Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP January 6, 2023

The above is obviously a significant case; GDPR application 'versus' national law discussed

The European Parliament Adopts New Sustainability Reporting Rules. Jones Day November 22, 2022 

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (above) affects companies with 'substantial business activity in the EU.'

Significant developments in Gambling advertising regulations:

ANJ guidelines on offers and bonuses (FR) 27/10/22

Announcement linked above, guidelines here (FR)

Commitment charters signed (FR) 7/11/22

The above developments are a result of the gambling authority's concerns around Euro 2020 (played 2021), when they considered that there had been excessive pressure exerted by operators' advertising and that there was too much of it. Above is a selection of the measures that the authority developed with the industry (see gambling database on this website for full information) and that represents the new regime that will be 'tested' during the World Cup 2022

Fossil fuels ad ban; carbon and other claims

From 22nd August 2022, the 'advertising and promotion' (la publicité relative à la commercialisation ou faisant la promotion) of specified fossil fuels is prohibited; see section 8 of the Environmental Code, art. L229-61 (FR) from the 'Climate and Resilience Law' referenced above. The same law introduced a new section 9 in the Environmental Code on requirements and conditions for carbon claims such as 'carbon neutral', 'zero carbon', 'zero-carbon footprint', 'climate neutral', 'fully offset', '100% offset' or equivalent, applicable as of January 1, 2023. Key clauses are in English here, courtesy of Soulier Avocats. There are other significant environmental information measures aimed at 'waste-generating' products, which include a ban on terms such as 'environmentally friendly' or 'biodegradable' on products and packaging; details to be developed via decree in the coming months; see Better consumer information on the environmental qualities of products from Bird&Bird June 2022. 

Amends to the Consumer Code effective May 28, 2022 driven by the 'Omnibus' Directive 2019/2161 introduced requirements for information in an e-Commerce context related to search rankings and consumer reviews (article L121-3) and promotional pricing rules under article L112-1-1. Transposition via Ordinance 2021-1734. Consumer Code in French here and an unofficial English translation here, inc. 2022 clauses

Decree 2022-539 of April 13, 2022 on Carbon Offsetting and Carbon Neutrality Claims in Advertising (FR) creates a new Section 9 in the French Environmental Code. The clauses concerned are in English here. This and the new amends to the Consumer Code (see France/ General rules in this database) are the principal influences in renewed focus on environmental claims regulation.

23/4/22. Big Tech companies to face new EU content rules. This is the news that the 'Trilogue' (consisting of representation from the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament) have reached agreement on the Digital Services Act, 'a landmark piece of legislation that aims to address illegal and harmful content by getting platforms to rapidly take it down.' The Council's press release is here

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France's gambling regulations tightened with the announcement of Guidelines and Recommendations from ANJ (FR / EN), following their extensive consultation of Autumn 2021. These measures, aimed at preventing problem gambling and protecting minors, further restrict both content and advertising presence and introduce new formatting for the warning message.

Greenwashing' March 2022: ARPP announce that advertisers and agencies must consult them before transmission of national campaigns if those contain environmental claims. More here (FR) and key extracts unofficially translated here.

From Decree 2021-1840 of 28 December 2021 on advertising for motor vehicles (Décret n° 2021-1840 du 28 décembre 2021 relatif aux publicités en faveur des véhicules à moteur), and stemming from article L328-1 of the Highway Code (Code de la Route), it is required that from March 1, 2022 any advertising for motor vehicles must carry a message encouraging different forms of mobility. Messages as follows, rotated equally.  

'Pour les trajets courts, privilégiez la marche ou le vélo', 'Pensez à covoiturer', et  'Au quotidien, prenez les transports en commun'.

'For short trips, opt for walking or cycling,' 'Consider car-pooling' and 'On a daily basis, take public transport.'

Also required is a CO2 emissions label, specifically formatted, stating the emissions of the advertised car. Full rules for both new measures here

December 2021 EASA update on the progress of the Digital Services Act is here

New ARPP Digital Code in force Jan 2022 FR / EN

Act No. 2020-1266 (FR) of 19 October 2020 on the commercial use of the image of children under 16 on online platforms

December 2021 EASA update on the progress of the European Commission Beating Cancer Plan (BECA). The EC plan potentially impacts marketing/ advertising in both the Alcohol category and the Food and Beverages category 

December 2021 EASA update on Empowering the Consumer for the Green Transition. The EC has delayed the tabling of this initiative until 30 March 2022. Their ‘sweep’ results checking sustainability claims are here

ARPP is launching the Responsible Influence Certificate with the Media Institute to enable influencers to master the legal and ethical framework, protect their audiences, and differentiate themselves with brands. The certificate can be found here.

The Digital Services Act package

EASA's September 2021 update on the DSA here 

And on the Better Internet for Children Strategy (BIK strategy) here

And on environmental claims and the new consumer agenda here

 EU pages on the Farm to Fork strategy here

The EU’s Green Consumption Pledge Initiative focuses on 'non-food or mixed businesses with direct interaction with consumers'

 And complements the EU Code of Conduct for Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices, in force July 2021 

EU issues: an update on the progress of the Digital Services Act is here, on the Farm to Fork strategy (see below) here, and on 'Green transition' here

ARPP and Influence4You launch 'The Influencer Highway Code' (FR)

ARPP’s 17th edition newsletter (FR)

https://www.arpp.org/actualite/arpp-17eme-numero/

ARPP presents its five commitments to strengthen the efficiency of professional regulation of advertising in concert with civil society

Latest – and significant – news on the EU Farm to Fork strategy here; EU pages on the strategy here

In the context of Europe’s ‘Beating Cancer Action Plan’, there will be some impact on self-regulation regarding HFSS food advertising, alcohol advertising and Audiovisual Media Service Directive (AVMDS) provisions on commercial communications, similar to the above ‘Farm to Fork’ implications. This relates to the new clauses introduced by the 2018/1808 Directive

The EU’s Green Consumption Pledge Initiative focuses on “non-food or mixed businesses with direct interaction with consumers”  and complements the EU Code of conduct for responsible business and marketing practices that will focus on the food sector. This is planned for June 2021

And the ‘green sweep’  - an EU review of websites that make environmental claims - finds that ‘in 42% of cases the claims were exaggerated, false or deceptive and could potentially qualify as unfair commercial practices under EU rules. ‘Greenwashing' has increased as consumers increasingly seek to buy environmentally sound products.’

A l’occasion de la 1ère édition du Grand Prix Stratégies de l’Influence #GPStrat, l’ARPP, membre du Jury et partenaire de l’évènement, annonce le lancement de son 2ème Observatoire « Marketing d’influence : les bonnes pratiques » privilégiant cette année une approche technologique via Reech influence Cloud, et offre en libre accès sur son site, un kit de communication responsable compilant les contenus en lien avec les bonnes pratiques : cadre légal et déontologique, chartes professionnelles, podcasts, études et infographies…

FOOD: the EU's Farm to Fork strategy (EN) underlines that the Commission "will develop an EU Code of conduct for responsible business and marketing practice accompanied with a monitoring framework. The Code will be developed with all relevant stakeholders" in Q2 2021

Amendments brought about by Directive 2018/1808 extending the scope of the AVMSD into e.g. video-sharing platforms are provided nationally in Ordinance 2020-1642 of 21 December 2020 (FR)

The European Commission presented the Digital Services Act (DSA) that proposes a set of new EU wide rules for digital services, including on online advertising. According to the Commission, “the new framework will rebalance the rights and responsibilities of users, intermediary platforms, and public authorities and is based on European values - including the respect of human rights, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law”. The proposal is available here and press release here. The European Parliament and EU Member States will soon start discussing the proposal in the ordinary legislative procedure. In the first week of January, the EU Member States will meet in the margins of the Internal Market Working Party to discuss the proposal

Sustainability Code V3 (EN) and supporting video (EN sub-titles)

Consumer code update following amendment. New link here (EN)

April 2020

ICAS, EASA and CONARED Statement on the Importance of Responsible Advertising and COVID-19

https://icas.global/icas-easa-and-conared-statement-on-the-importance-of-responsible-advertising-and-covid-19/