AGCOM Fines Google and Twitch for Violating Italy’s Gambling Ad Ban

AGCOM, the Italian media and communications regulator, has levied substantial fines against tech giants Google and Twitch for violating Italy’s stringent ban on gambling ads. Google Ireland faces a €2.25 million penalty, while Twitch Interactive Germany is fined €900,000, marking a decisive action by AGCOM against breaches of the nation’s gambling advertising regulations.

Major crackdown in Italy’s advertising landscape! AGCOM imposes hefty fines on Google and Twitch for flouting the country’s comprehensive ban on gambling ads.

After receiving numerous reports of violations, AGCOM’s investigation uncovered over 20,000 videos across more than 80 YouTube and Twitch channels promoting slots, sports betting, and scratch cards. This discovery led to the fines, underscoring AGCOM’s commitment to enforcing the Dignity Decree of 2019, which prohibits all forms of gambling advertising in Italy.

The enforcement of this decree is critical in maintaining the integrity of Italy’s media landscape and protecting consumers from unwanted gambling promotions. AGCOM’s action sends a strong message that platform owners are responsible for content distributed through their channels, ensuring a safer digital environment for all users.

Keep an eye on the evolving regulatory landscape in Italy, particularly if you’re involved in digital content creation or platform management. Understanding the nuances of these regulations is essential for compliance and avoiding potential fines.

Although third parties uploaded the videos, AGCOM holds platform owners like Google and Twitch accountable for the dissemination of the material. Notably, TikTok was exempt from similar fines, as AGCOM determined that it did not have a contractual relationship with the content creators behind the videos.

AGCOM acknowledged that the platforms had removed the contentious content upon notification. However, it has ordered Google and Twitch to take measures to prevent similar violations in the future.

This isn’t the first time Google has faced fines in Italy for advertising rule breaches. Some previous fines have been overturned on appeal, such as in September when the Administrative Court of Lazio ruled that AGCOM must drop a €750,000 fine against Google. The court found that Google had been “effective and competent” in removing illegal gambling content, agreeing that the links were promoted by independent advertisers, not by Google itself.

These developments in Italy’s media regulatory landscape highlight the critical role of platform owners in monitoring and controlling the content they host, particularly in areas as sensitive as gambling advertising. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, tech giants and content platforms must navigate these challenges carefully to ensure compliance with national advertising standards.