Joan Barata, MEDEA member, has contributed to the European Audiovisual Observatory’s newly released report on the regulation of influencer activity in Europe. His analysis of the Spanish regulatory framework is a significant contribution to this groundbreaking study, which was published in April 2025.
The report, titled “National Rules Applicable to Influencers,” represents the first comprehensive comparative analysis of the regulatory approaches across the European Union (EU-27), as well as Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Co-financed by the European Commission, this study provides a detailed examination of the laws and frameworks that govern influencer activity across Europe, offering critical insights into how influencers are regulated at national levels.
The report underscores that although a clear legal definition of “influencer” may not be necessary for regulation, influencers must still comply with existing advertising and marketing laws, as well as those regulations that apply to AVMS providers, if they meet the specified criteria. This analysis marks an important step toward creating consistent and fair regulations for influencer activity across Europe, ensuring that these digital media actors operate transparently and responsibly within the broader framework of audiovisual media services.