Elon Musk’s X Hit with $ 1.5M Fine Over Gambling Ads by Italian Watchdog

Elon Musk’s social media platform X (previously known as Twitter) has incurred a $1.5 million penalty from Italy’s Authority for Communications (AGCOM) for breaching the nation’s stringent regulations on gambling advertisements.

Since July 2018, Italy has enforced a comprehensive prohibition on gambling promotions across all digital mediums, including television, radio, the internet, and social media channels.

This fine comes on the heels of AGCOM’s recent action in December 2023, where YouTube and Twitch were collectively fined $3.42 million for allowing 20,000 gambling-related videos on their platforms, contravening Italy’s gambling ad ban.

The enforcement by AGCOM highlights the Italian government’s intensifying oversight of digital platforms, particularly in areas sensitive to public welfare like gambling. These fines are part of a broader initiative to safeguard consumers and mitigate the harmful impacts of gambling addiction.