Here’s the “Ferragni law” of online philanthropy. Messina: “Children’s use should be regulated”

The law, already named “Ferragni law”, will be adopted by the next council of ministers. The aid bill, which was created as a result of investigations into the famous phenomenon with 29.3 million followers, foresees very heavy fines of 5 thousand to 50 thousand euros for everyone and activity blockages that may last up to a year. digital entrepreneurs who do not guarantee transparency in their charitable campaigns. Manlio Messina, Deputy Group Leader of the Italian Brotherhood in the House of Representatives, talks about this to Today.it.

“What’s happening, Messina explains, is just the tip of the iceberg of a system that allows us to understand everything behind this world. It happens to everyone who, in supermarkets or walking around the street, comes across people asking for money for charity: what’s happening today is that there is absolute no transparency, very little control There is, and even the penalties are really small compared to what I believe is a very despicable crime. Because if you use people in need, you use sick people or children, to make criminal profit. This is more serious than a classic fraud, which is serious in itself, because it makes people suffer. “That’s why the government is intervening to fill this regulatory ballot.”

What will the new rule include?

“First of all, there will be the opportunity to control how much money will be collected and how much of it will reach philanthropists, all of these are unknown today. For example, there are people who collect one million euros, and then that happens. This million 700 thousand euros goes to salaries or various expenses, and in fact only a small part of it it turns out that it goes to those in need. This will no longer be allowed. Therefore, transparency will be increased and controls will be increased. This will also worry us. small initiatives, because even there collection mechanisms are triggered, which can become economically important. Anyone who violates the law will be punished not only in legal matters, but also He will also have to pay an appropriate penalty from a criminal perspective.” .

Basically, what will change in the post of an influencer like Chiara Ferragni, who promises to donate the proceeds from the sale of a pandora to a hospital?

“The person reading this will know exactly who the aid money will go to and how much it will be. And they will know this in advance, not afterwards. They will know how much of every euro donated will be donated. And they will know what the unexchanged money will be used for. At that point, everyone can donate completely calmly.” will be able to decide whether to do it or not; but this will only be a first step: then the obligation to publish a balance sheet at the end of the Collection will be added. I think this will encourage people because everyone will know where the money is going, and those who do not trust today will have the tools to feel protected if it happens to them. “

There are already people talking about “Ferragni’s Law”.

“Yes, it is defined this way because it is undeniable that events involving influencers, from pandoro to dolls to Easter eggs, shed light on this world. But frankly, we are not interested in making a law against it. The Ferragni case has brought the existing system to light because it is so exposed. Our goal is , regulating what influencers do when they use their image and followers for charity.”

Also, have you considered something to regulate the use of minors on social networks?

“I hope that there are also rules in this sense in the decree, but when they are not, they can be easily changed. The use of children must necessarily be regulated and, above all, penalties must be increased in case of the use of minors for false charity or advertising purposes.”