La Rai may soon receive one sanction heavy for the dealer occult a Instagram during the 2023 Festival of Sanremo. According to Il Messaggero, the communications authority, AGCOM, would have launched an investigation into the matter, and could fine Rai for the lack of a sponsorship contract for the use of Instagram during the Festival.
The situation appears to be quite serious, since the minimum fine envisaged by Agcom is 10 thousand euros, while the maximum fine can reach up to 253 thousand euros. As reported by Il Messaggero, the fine for Rai will most likely be close to the maximum amount.
Violations committed during the Festival include the use of Instagram Live without an endorsement deal, which for Agcom constitutes undue advertising space. Furthermore, the large space dedicated to the Costa Crociere ship without the words "promotional message" would have further violated the rules on television advertising.
La Rai ha thirty days to present "counter-arguments", but the fine will be triggered anyway. The use of Instagram during the Sanremo Festival 2023 by Chiara Ferragni e Amadeus it aroused much controversy, as the two created a profile on the social platform while they were live, and talked about it several times without an endorsement deal.
Rai has denied to have violated the standards on television advertising, but the final decision will be up to Agcom. The situation is constantly evolving, and more information will soon be available on the possible fine that Rai will have to pay for hidden advertising on Instagram during the 2023 Sanremo Festival.
