Abu Dhabi: Saudi Arabia’s Commerce Ministry has held 100 social media advertisers for flouting e-commerce laws, 10 of whom were fined SR165,000 in total, local media reported.
The advertisers used Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram to illegally promote fake goods and make false claims, plus failed to disclose that they were publishing advertising material, the ministry said on its Twitter account.
The ministry referred 90 advertisers, who posted 123 violating advertisements through their accounts on social media, to an investigation panel to look into violations of the E-Commerce System and impose penalties. The activities promoted by the violators included perfumes and watches, accessories, women’s fashion, furniture, banned forex activity, banking services, delivery apps, and medical clinics, the ministry said.
Earlier, the ministry slapped SR740,000 in fines on other violators.
This brings the total fines imposed on 27 violators to SR905,000, since the rules took effect.
