Russia: Sber and Yandex fined by FAS for inappropriate advertising

The Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia has imposed fines on Sberbank and Yandex for violating advertising laws. The reason was the placement of an advertising banner about the possibility of obtaining a loan for the purchase of a vehicle, published through the Yandex Direct service.

According to the agency, the advertising message did not contain a mandatory warning about financial risks. According to the law, any advertisement for consumer loans or loans must contain the phrase: "Evaluate your financial capabilities and risks." Violation of this requirement imposes liability on both the advertiser and the ad distributor.

Earlier, the FAS found the materials inappropriate and issued instructions to stop using them. As a result, the companies were brought to administrative responsibility. The fine for legal entities under Article 14.3 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation can range from 100 to 500 thousand rubles.

Experts note that this decision highlights the tightening of control over advertising of financial services in Russia. Antitrust authorities seek to limit aggressive and misleading advertising practices while protecting consumers ' interests in the credit market.

Punitive measures against major players such as Sberbank and Yandex signal that regulators will closely monitor the advertising campaigns of financial institutions and digital platforms, especially in the face of the growing number of online loans and loan offers.