Healthcare sector accounted for a maximum 19% or 1,569 of 8,229 advertisements scrutinised by ASCI during 2023-24. Nearly 86% of drugs found illegal were on digital platforms.
Advertising Standards Council of India also says such ads must not disrespect dignity of those on whose behalf appeal is made & not mislead consumers or cause them unjustified distress.
The new guidelines, applicable from 1 September, aim to curb companies misleading consumers about final price, remaining stock, among other 'dark patterns' in online advertising.
In response to manipulative advertisement techniques violating consumer rights, DoCA and ASCI are encouraging platforms to create user-friendly spaces.
Use of disclaimers must be kept to minimum, say amended guidelines from Advertising Standards Council of India. This comes in backdrop of new govt rules on social media influencers.
Social media influencers are also increasingly violating norms, says ASCI, which received 14% more complaints against ads in April-September 2022 than same period last year.
No clear central law on what differentiates brand extensions from surrogate ads, other issues like privacy also proving difficult to navigate, self-regulatory body’s CEO says in interview.
In 2022, athletes claimed they were asked to wind up training early at Thyagraj Stadium so that the IAS couple could walk their dog. Then came the memes and public outrage.
Instead of buying more Mirages outright in early 2000s, the requirement was tweaked in favour of a medium-weight, multi-role fighter with Mirage-like performance.
Pakistan not only has zero chance of catching up with India in most areas, but will inevitably see the gap rising. Its leaders will offer its people the same snake oil in different bottles.
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