Since 1992, the legislature has relied on the Antitrust Authority to repress false advertising distributed by any means: TV, newspapers, leaflets, posters, telemarketing. Not until 2005, however, was the Antitrust Authority empowered with the capacity to inflict fines. Thanks to a European directive, the competencies of the Antitrust Authority were further amplified in 2007. Not only was there a quintupling of the maximum limit for fines (raised from 100 to 500 thousand), but consumer protection was also introduced to counteract unfair commercial practices in the business world. If a company takes any action to alter consumer behavior by either omitting information or, even worse, by resorting to illegal forms of influence, the Antitrust Authority may intervene by inflicting fines.