Two Swiss sports celebrities rebuked over Instagram posts

The Swiss Fairness Commission has rebuked two influencers over non-declared advertising made in posts made on Instagram, Swiss public television SRF has learned. The decision concerns a post each by snowboard champion Iouri Podladtchikov and mountain biker Jolanda Neff, according the SRF report published on Friday. SRF has seen the decisions, which are the first in Switzerland concerning influencer advertising. The move comes after the Swiss Foundation for Consumer Protection filed a complaint with the Swiss Fairness Commission against Swiss tennis star Roger Federer and several other celebrity “influencers”, accusing them of “stealth advertising” on Instagram and other social media sites. The celebrities do not have to fear fines, as the Swiss commission can only issue warnings. Signal  Nevertheless, the head of the Swiss Foundation for Consumer Protection, Sara Stalder, told SRF that the decisions in both cases sent a strong signal, as the confirmation of the association’s ...