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Not in Europe. Thankfully we have Advertising Standards that require all ads to be "Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful" or the ads can be banned. All sanctions

Not in Europe. Thankfully we have Advertising Standards that require all ads to be "Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful" or the ads can be banned. All sanctions are published and often end up reported in the news. More serious breaches can be referred up the chain for fines. Surprisingly this is industry self regulation, at least in the UK, that mostly works OK. It applies to internet claims, ads and websites too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising_Standards_Authority_(United_Kingdom) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising_Standards_Authorit...

pbhjpbhj 8y ago
Actually, I'm in UK, I can't recall exactly what but the other day I read advertising copy and thought "the ASA have completely given up then". They're pretty toothless it seems. Other places definitely have it worse. When practised one does get to spot the key phrasing used to "lie within the regulations", the doublespeak like how people felt this or that our something appeared to be better or more lustrous when [paid] users were asked.
- DanBC 8y ago
  ASA regulate content after it's appeared based on complaints people make. Did you complain to ASA?
  - pbhjpbhj 8y ago
    I have in the past, the response was (paraphrasing) "the company pinky promise not to do it again so we're not going to do anything else". One time was a "travel to X for only £Y" and when I checked the actually cost was at least double the advertised price, there was no such ticket available. Not even under limited availability. I've seen the same thing since, but not checked if it was the same (train) company.
crispyambulance 8y ago
> Not in Europe. I don't believe that for one second when it comes to nebulous "quality of life claims". Check out this Nutella commercial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-nM3EjYEks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-nM3EjYEks) where a family is consuming mass quantities of Nutella (a palm-oil, hydrogenated fat, and sugar concoction). Ferrara has been pushing this stuff for years as a wholesome breakfast ingredient. In fact, Ferrara was sued in the USA for making dubious claims about Nutella! (https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/04/26/151454929/nutella-maker-may-settle-deceptive-ad-lawsuit-for-3-million https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/04/26/151454929/nu...)
- DanBC 8y ago
  If Ferrara tried to make health claims or tried to market to under 16's they'd be regulated. Here's one example where they were found to be complying with the code after complaints were made: https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/ferrero-uk-ltd-a18-444638.html https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/ferrero-uk-ltd-a18-444638.htm...

pbhjpbhj 8y ago

Actually, I'm in UK, I can't recall exactly what but the other day I read advertising copy and thought "the ASA have completely given up then". They're pretty toothless it seems. Other places definitely have it worse. When practised one does get to spot the key phrasing used to "lie within the regulations", the doublespeak like how people felt this or that our something appeared to be better or more lustrous when [paid] users were asked.

DanBC 8y ago
ASA regulate content after it's appeared based on complaints people make. Did you complain to ASA?
- pbhjpbhj 8y ago
  I have in the past, the response was (paraphrasing) "the company pinky promise not to do it again so we're not going to do anything else". One time was a "travel to X for only £Y" and when I checked the actually cost was at least double the advertised price, there was no such ticket available. Not even under limited availability. I've seen the same thing since, but not checked if it was the same (train) company.

crispyambulance 8y ago

> Not in Europe. I don't believe that for one second when it comes to nebulous "quality of life claims". Check out this Nutella commercial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-nM3EjYEks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-nM3EjYEks) where a family is consuming mass quantities of Nutella (a palm-oil, hydrogenated fat, and sugar concoction). Ferrara has been pushing this stuff for years as a wholesome breakfast ingredient. In fact, Ferrara was sued in the USA for making dubious claims about Nutella! (https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/04/26/151454929/nutella-maker-may-settle-deceptive-ad-lawsuit-for-3-million https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/04/26/151454929/nu...)

DanBC 8y ago
If Ferrara tried to make health claims or tried to market to under 16's they'd be regulated. Here's one example where they were found to be complying with the code after complaints were made: https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/ferrero-uk-ltd-a18-444638.html https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/ferrero-uk-ltd-a18-444638.htm...