Saudi Ministry of Commerce has arrested 24 advertisers for violating e-advertising controls stipulated in the e-commerce law and its executive regulations for social media platforms.
The promoters committed four violations on Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, including deceiving and misleading consumers, false allegations, promoting unlicensed activity, and failure to disclose the provision of advertising material.
The ministry imposed fines on advertisers and included ten activities they promoted: restaurants, medical clinics, perfumes, watches, accessories, women's fashion, furniture, sportswear, electronic applications, and financing companies.
According to the e-commerce law and its executive regulations, an electronic advertisement must not include: a false offer, statement, claim, or misrepresentation that directly or indirectly deceives or misleads a consumer or use a logo or trademark that is either counterfeit or the service provider does not hold the right to use.
The ministry monitors and follows up on these advertisements and refers violators to a committee to look into violations of the e-commerce law, through which it issues fines of up to one million riyals, blocking and closing the websites and preventing them from practicing the activity.
