Bulletin

March 2020 #117

Ad Standards response to COVID-19

Ad Standards is committed to providing a responsive and efficient advertising complaints adjudication system for Australia during this unprecedented time of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Complaints about the content of any advertising or marketing communication should continue to be lodged on the Ad Standards website. Ad Standards Copy Advice also continues to be available through the online form.

We will continue to monitor the situation as we maintain our capacity to provide services, while ensuring the safety of our team.

Please visit AdStandards.com.au for any changes to business as usual, including the time frames for complaint handling.

Guidance to advertisers on meeting current community standards

A reminder to advertisers, as the situation around COVID-19 continues to evolve, to ensure that the content of your ad aligns eith current community standards and health guidelines.

For more information and updates, follow Ad Standards on LinkedIn.

Ad Standards awards second *kinder conditions award

A television ad with positive social messaging has been recognised by Ad Standards for creating *kinder conditions in advertising. The winning TVC from advertiser Cadbury was nominated for promoting social inclusion and “actions that speak louder than words”.

The kinder conditions campaign invites the community and advertisers to nominate ads that challenge stereotypes and clichés to recognise more socially progressive marketing communication across the wide range of social issues covered by the advertising Codes.

Bike with no bell breaches health and safety regs

The recent case of a YouTube ad featuring a bike without a bell highlights to advertisers that small details matter, and the need to make sure your content meets prevailing community standards on health and safety as well as the law

The ad was upheld by the Ad Standards Community Panel for breaching Section 2.6 of the AANA Code of Ethics.

Why context in advertising content matters

Complaints about two advertisements which raised concern about depictions of violence on a poster for an opera production, and a TV on-demand horror movie trailer have been dismissed by the Ad Standards Community Panel.

The Panel determined the portrayal of violence was justifiable in the context of the products advertised and not in breach of Section 2.3 of the AANA Code of Ethics.

You can find all Community Panel determinations on the website at AdStandards.com.au/cases

The advertising Codes apply to ad content across all media channels

A reminder that the advertising Codes and Initiatives administered by Ad Standards apply to all media channels including TV-on demand streaming services.

This follows a recent ACMA determination regarding a breach of the broadcast gambling advertising rules during the online streaming of a live sporting event.

Concerns about the content of an ad breaching community standards as set out in the AANA Code of Ethics or the AANA Wagering Advertising Code can be lodged with Ad Standards.