Steffi Merci fined for undisclosed ads as police violence figures rise

Influencer Steffi Merci, through her company Merciekes CommV, has been issued an administrative fine of 1,500 euros for failing to properly disclose commercial communications in four YouTube videos. The investigation found that the content, which included videos featuring a world champion, coverage of Justin Bieber at Coachella, and dance segments in South Korea and Spain, did not meet the required labeling standards for paid content or benefits received. Merci acknowledged the errors and committed to ensuring future content is correctly labeled.

In a separate matter regarding law enforcement, data indicates that police violence incidents reached nearly 40,000 in 2025. While changes in national registration systems since 2019 have contributed to higher figures, violence against individuals specifically rose by 20 percent compared to the previous year. Jair Schalkwijk of the organization Controle Alt Delete noted that while violence against police officers has remained relatively stable, the increase in force used by officers raises questions regarding proportionality and the need for independent investigation.