Influencers Could Face Jail Time Under New Law Requiring Labels for Edited Photos

An emerging law in Norway could imprison influencers on Instagram who fail to disclose if the photos they’ve posted as advertisements were edited. Norway’s monarch King Harald V will determine when this regulation will be implemented.

In accordance with the amendments made to Norway’s Marketing Act, paid influencers will now have to clearly indicate if their posts have been modified in any way with a label. The law also covers paid advertisements posted on other social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

The label was designed by the Norwegian Ministry of Children and Family Affairs. It will serve as a mark for posts that include altered photos, particularly of the refined appearances of influencers.

Additionally, the law will only cover influencers and celebrities who “receive any payment or other benefit” from their posts on social media platforms. Those who will be proven to violate the law can either be fined or sentenced to prison.

The new measure comes as part of the country’s efforts to significantly lessen the negative effects of social media on people’s mental health. It also comes as a response to the #filterdrop campaign started by makeup artist and model Sasha Pallari in July 2020.

Instagram has likewise been improving its platform to ease users’ anxiety. Features like hiding the count of likes and showing filters used for stories on top of the screen have been made available for all. Influencers, celebrities, and brands in the UK are expected to observe the new ruling as well.

Source: New York Post