Global AdVocate: advertising and marketing international quarterly newsletter

This edition highlights major updates across multiple jurisdictions. These include the continued roll-out of the EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive and a contested transitional exemption adopted in the Czech Republic; the EU AI Act’s transparency and labeling obligations for AI-generated and deep fake content; China’s new measures on the online marketing of financial products, alongside draft rules on micro short dramas, pyramid schemes and cited content in advertisements; new consumer credit advertising requirements implementing the revised Consumer Credit Directive in Italy, Latvia and the Czech Republic; France’s move to an opt-in regime for telemarketing; and, in the UK, the Sporting Events Bill’s ambush marketing protections, new restrictions on marketing automated vehicles, and further measures under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026.

We also cover Bulgaria’s new licensing regime for gambling affiliates and its proposed near-total ban on gambling advertising, the liberalization of online spirits marketing in Finland, Hong Kong’s proposed cooling-off rights for beauty and fitness services, Ireland’s new vaping legislation and broadcasting reforms, the transfer of financial services advertising supervision to the Bank of Latvia, the 72nd edition of Italy’s IAP Code, and regulatory guidance from authorities including the DGCCRF and ARPP in France, the ASA, HPRA, Central Bank and Coimisiún na Meán in Ireland, AGCOM and the Garante in Italy, the Consumer Rights Protection Centre in Latvia, the Dubai Health Authority, and the ASA, CAP and Ofcom in the UK.

This edition also features recent case law and enforcement actions, addressing topics including influencer and covert advertising, reference pricing and discount claims, greenwashing, sexist and discriminatory advertising, health claims, gambling advertising, the promotion of prescription-only weight loss medicines, the “less healthy” food rules, drip pricing and telemarketing breaches.

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• Anita Dangova - Bulgaria
• Koon-Yiu Tse - Hong Kong
• Tiffany Chu - Hong Kong
• Roosa Teittinen - Finland
• Alexis Perchec - France
• Christina Miller - Germany
• Teniola Alao - Ireland
• Kate Kirk Murphy - Ireland

• Dan Jackson - Ireland

• Nicola Lattanzi - Italy
• Darta Spridzane - Latvia
• Beatrise Lukšēvica - Latvia
• Elvita Rizena - Latvia
• Bas Peper - Netherlands
• Sophie Wiegant - Netherlands
• Andrew Garbett - UAE
• Chloe Gastrell - UK
• Melanie Lane - USA

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