Italian News Sites Caught Running Disguised Ads: Hidden "adv" Codes Exposed

Italian News Outlets Accused of Running Disguised Ads: An Investigation Rome, Italy – A recent video by online journalist striscialanotizia has sparked debate over the ethical practices of major Italian news outlets. The video focuses on Repubblica.it and Tgcom24.it, accusing them of promoting so-called "pseudo gurus" without clearly labeling the content as sponsored advertisements. The video provides a detailed analysis of a news article URL from Repubblica.it, highlighting the presence of the code "adv," which stands for advertising. This revelation suggests that the article, which appears as regular news content, is in fact a paid advertisement. The presenter, Francesco Mazza, states, "They use a very sophisticated technique, the most refined we've encountered." The investigation also extends to another instance involving Tgcom, further emphasizing the apparent pattern of undisclosed advertising. The video concludes by urging viewers to be critical of online information and to look for hidden advertising codes in URLs. This investigation raises important questions about transparency and journalistic integrity in the digital age. The practice of running disguised advertisements erodes public trust and can lead to consumers being misled. The outcome of this investigation remains to be seen, but it highlights the need for greater accountability and transparency in online advertising.