Influencer fined 36,000 euros for undisclosed ads

Influencer Hanadi Diab faces a hefty 36,000 euro fine for repeated violations of advertising disclosure rules on Instagram. The Baden-Württemberg State Institute for Communication (LFK) announced the penalty, noting it is the highest such fine issued to an influencer to date. The total amount owed, including fees and expenses, reaches 37,803.50 euros, and the decision is legally binding.

Diab, who boasts over 760,000 Instagram followers and posts about lifestyle, fashion, and beauty, has publicly contested the LFK's findings. In a TikTok video, she expressed shock, asserting that she labels every collaboration. According to Diab, the LFK's concerns centered on the size and clarity of the advertising labels, which she believes are visible to users.

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I am shocked. I label every cooperation.

The LFK cited several paid collaborations posted by Diab in Instagram stories between May and July 2025. The agency stated that some posts lacked any advertising indication, and the commercial nature of others was not immediately apparent to users. This is not the first time Diab has faced scrutiny; the LFK had previously warned her about advertising disclosure requirements in 2020 and 2022. The significant fine takes into account the repeated violations, Diab's large reach, the economic value of the collaborations, and the prior warnings from the authority.

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You can see everywhere that it is an advertisement.