The CNCT recognized as a "trusted signaller" by Arcom

The National Committee Against Smoking (CNCT) has just been granted "trusted flagger" status by the Audiovisual and Digital Communication Regulatory Authority (Arcom) under the European Digital Services Act (DSA). This recognition now allows reports submitted by the CNCT concerning content illegally promoting tobacco, vaping, or nicotine products to be given priority by digital platforms.[1].

The CNCT (National Committee Against Tobacco) thus becomes the second health-related organization in France to benefit from this status, after Addictions France. This decision recognizes several years of monitoring, analysis, and legal action undertaken by the association to document the marketing strategies of the tobacco and nicotine industry on social media and digital platforms. In a context marked by the rise of hidden promotional content and new digital advertising formats, this status provides an additional tool for strengthening the effective enforcement of regulations online, particularly among young people.

A new tool to accelerate the removal of illegal content

Created by the European regulation on digital services (Digital Services Act – DSA), the status of «trusted whistleblower» aims to strengthen the capacity of authorities and specialized actors to combat the dissemination of manifestly illegal content on digital platforms.

Awarded by Arcom to organizations recognized for their expertise and independence, this status now requires very large platforms and social networks to prioritize the processing of reports transmitted by the CNCT concerning content that contravenes the applicable law regarding advertising, promotion or sponsorship of tobacco and vaping products.

In practical terms, this mechanism speeds up the procedures for removing or restricting access to illegal content, while also strengthening the traceability and consideration of reports made by the association. Platforms are also required to diligently review these notifications and provide justification for their decisions when no action is taken.

This mechanism is particularly important in the field of tobacco control, where promotional content is becoming increasingly diffuse, cross-border, and difficult to identify. The use of influencers, ephemeral content, secondary accounts, and algorithmic strategies now allows manufacturers and distributors to maintain the visibility of their products despite strict advertising bans under French and European law.

The status of trusted reporter thus constitutes an additional legal lever to strengthen the effective application of regulations in digital spaces, improve the responsiveness of platforms and limit the exposure of young audiences to promotional content related to tobacco, vaping and new products containing nicotine or similar substances.

Increasingly sophisticated digital strategies

Despite the existence of a strict legal framework prohibiting the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco and vaping products, manufacturers continue to develop ever more sophisticated strategies to maintain the visibility of their products online.

Influencer marketing, ephemeral content, livestreams, product placement, mirror accounts, cross-border advertising, and the exploitation of platform algorithms: promotional techniques are evolving rapidly and significantly complicating controls. The CNCT also highlights the emergence of new content linked to products containing nicotine analogues, further blurring existing regulatory boundaries.

The association also notes that some platforms are still slow to remove clearly illegal content, despite documented reports based on French and European law. In this context, the trusted flagger status should help to increase the responsiveness of platforms and improve the effectiveness of bans on advertising for tobacco and nicotine products.

The CNCT also indicates that it will continue and strengthen its monitoring, legal documentation and reporting activities in order to identify new circumvention strategies used by the industry, particularly those aimed at normalizing uses among younger generations.

AE

[1][1] Press release, Arcom grants CNCT the status of "trusted whistleblower": a major recognition of the association in its fight against illicit practices, CNCT, published on June 2, 2026, accessed on the same day