Real Estate and Offshore Betting Ads Top Violators of ASCI Rules
NEW DELHI: Real estate and offshore betting have emerged as the most violative sectors in India with respect to advertising rules, according to a half-yearly analysis by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).
Real EstateOffshore BettingAsciAdvertising StandardsConsumer ProtectionReal Estate NewsNov 26, 2024
The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) is a self-regulatory organization dedicated to maintaining ethical standards in advertising. It aims to protect consumers from false or misleading advertisements and ensures that ads comply with the statutory rules and regulations of the country.
Real Estate and Offshore Betting The Most Violative Sectors
In the 2023-24 period, a half-yearly analysis by ASCI revealed that real estate and offshore betting were the most violative sectors in terms of advertising rules. The report, titled the Half-Yearly Complaints Report 2024-25, highlights the significant issues in these industries.
Key Findings of the Report
- Real Estate (34%) The real estate sector topped the list with 34% of the most violative ads. This highlights the need for stricter regulations and better compliance in this sector.- Offshore Betting (29%) Offshore betting ads accounted for 29% of the violations, indicating a growing concern over the promotion of illegal betting activities.- Healthcare (8%) Healthcare ads followed, with 8% of violations, raising questions about the accuracy and truthfulness of medical and health-related advertisements.- Personal Care (7%) Personal care ads accounted for 7% of the violations, suggesting a need for more stringent oversight in this category.- Food & Beverage (6%) The food and beverage sector saw 6% of the violations, emphasizing the importance of transparency in food labeling and health claims.
ASCI's Efforts and Impact
Between April and September 2023, ASCI reviewed 4,016 complaints and investigated 3,031 ads, with 98% of these ads requiring modifications. The council's ongoing monitoring of digital platforms led to the processing of 2,830 ads, accounting for 93% of the total ads reviewed.
Of the ads investigated, 2,087 were found to be in violation of the law. Notably, 1,027 real estate ads were reported to the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) under an MoU between ASCI and MahaRERA. Furthermore, 890 ads promoting illegal betting were reported to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), and 156 ads were escalated to the Ministry of Ayush for violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies (DMR) Act. Additionally, 10 ads promoting liquor and 4 ads related to deepfakes were reported to the MIB.
Advertiser Response and Compliance
Of the 944 cases that were formally investigated, 53% of the ads were not contested by the advertiser upon receiving the intimation of the complaint from ASCI. This indicates a need for advertisers to take more responsibility and act proactively in ensuring compliance.
CEO's Perspective
Manisha Kapoor, CEO of ASCI, commented, \
Frequently Asked Questions
What sectors were the most violative according to ASCI's half-yearly report?
According to the report, real estate and offshore betting were the most violative sectors in terms of advertising rules, followed by healthcare, personal care, and food & beverage.
How many ads did ASCI review and investigate between April and September 2023?
ASCI reviewed 4,016 complaints and investigated 3,031 ads during this period.
What percentage of the investigated ads required modifications?
98% of the investigated ads required modifications.
How many ads promoting illegal betting were reported to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB)?
890 ads promoting illegal betting were reported to the MIB.
What is ASCI's stance on greenwashing and how are they addressing it?
ASCI has released guidelines on greenwashing earlier in 2024, and it will remain an area of focus for them, aiming to ensure transparency and accuracy in environmental claims made by advertisers.
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