Latest news with #AdvertisingStandardsCouncilofIndia
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
MPL parent company serves legal notice to ASCI, demands INR 50 crore for alleged defamation
HighlightsGalactus Funware Technology, the parent company of Mobile Premier League, has issued a legal notice to the Advertising Standards Council of India demanding the withdrawal of a whitepaper on opinion trading and seeking INR 50 crore in damages for alleged defamation. The legal notice accuses the Advertising Standards Council of India of publishing a biased whitepaper that misrepresents Mobile Premier League's advertisements by allegedly tampering with screenshots and removing disclaimers. Galactus Funware Technology is challenging the authority of the Advertising Standards Council of India to comment on opinion trading, arguing that it does not have the mandate to categorize such activities as lacking skill, particularly as the legality of these games is currently under judicial review. Galactus Funware Technology , the parent company of online gaming platform MPL ( Mobile Premier League ), has issued a legal notice to the Advertising Standards Council of India ( ASCI ), demanding the immediate withdrawal of a whitepaper titled "Examining Opinion Trading in India" and seeking INR 50 crore in damages for alleged defamation and loss of goodwill. The legal notice, dated May 23, 2025, sent through their legal counsel Trilegal, accuses ASCI of publishing a "biased and unsubstantiated" whitepaper that relies on "tampered" versions of MPL's advertisements and misrepresents their content to mislead consumers. Allegations of tampering and misrepresentation Galactus Funware claims that the ASCI whitepaper, published in May 2025, deliberately edited screenshots of their advertisements to support a "baseless conclusion" that opinion trading involves an "element of risk" and "chances of financial losses". The notice highlights specific instances of alleged tampering citing that ASCI allegedly removed disclaimers present in the original advertisement, thereby misrepresenting its compliance with advertising codes. The company states that a screenshot from an educational YouTube video, emphasising "Skill, Interest, Knowledge," was taken out of context and selectively edited to imply risk, despite the video's focus on skill development. Galactus Funware also claims ASCI reproduced only a partial section of their website, omitting detailed content on skill, knowledge, and responsible gameplay, and intentionally removing disclaimers. "The Opinion Trading Whitepaper represents a gross misuse of ASCI's position and seemingly been issued with the sole intent of spreading misinformation and defaming our Client," the legal notice states, adding that its "sensationalist tone reeks of vested interests and a blatant disregard for objectivity". The advertising self-regulatory body, ASCI told ET that they were in receipt of the notice, but a spokesperson denied any wrongdoing. "We are in receipt of the notice and there is absolutely no question of tampering," the regulator said, in response to a query from ET. ASCI's Mandate Questioned Beyond the allegations of tampering, Galactus Funware challenges ASCI's authority to publish such a whitepaper. They argue that ASCI's charter, the Code for Self-Regulation in Advertising, does not provide for commenting on the nature or legality of any industry's operations. The notice further asserts that ASCI has "no technical acumen or mandate" to categorise opinion trading as a game devoid of skill, equating it to betting or wagering, especially when the legality and categorisation of such games are sub-judice before various high courts, with proceedings stayed by the Supreme Court. Galactus Funware has given ASCI three days from the issuance of the notice to publicly withdraw the whitepaper. Failure to comply will result in the initiation of "appropriate legal actions (both civil and criminal)" for "deceptive and defamatory conduct", the notice said. The company also warned that it would seek further compensation for each day the whitepaper remains in the public domain beyond the stipulated three days. Copies of the legal notice have also been sent to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the All India Gaming Federation. When ET reached out to MPL for their response, a spokesperson declined to comment.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Offshore betting and real estate top ad violations in ASCI's 2024-25 report
Offshore betting and real estate emerged as the most non-compliant sectors in advertising during 2024-25, according to the Advertising Standards Council of India 's (ASCI) Annual Complaints Report. The self-regulatory body reviewed 9,599 complaints and examined 7,199 advertisements over the course of the year. Offshore betting accounted for 43.5% of all the violative ads last fiscal, followed by real estate at 24.9%. Together, these sectors made up more than two-thirds (68%) of total violations, the report said. They were joined by personal care (5.7%), healthcare (5.23%), and food and beverages (4.69%) as the top five violating sectors. ASCI monitors advertising violations across brands, platforms, and influencers, working closely with the Department of Consumer Affairs to promote truthful and lawful advertising. "This year has been one of meaningful collaboration," said Manisha Kapoor, CEO and secretary general of ASCI. "We expanded our efforts to address key areas such as offshore betting and real estate, which involve high-impact violations." Betting is illegal in India, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has directed all publishers to avoid carrying advertisements from offshore betting platforms. Industry-wide compliance with ASCI guidelines stood at 83%, with television and print media showing a higher adherence rate of 98%. Digital media accounted for 94.4% of the ads flagged for violations, while traditional media contributed a relatively small share. Influencer-related violations made up 14% of the total ads reviewed. The report noted that 79% of digital ad violations occurred on Meta platforms, followed by other websites, Google, property portals, and LinkedIn. ASCI reported a significant improvement in complaint resolution efficiency during 2024-25, with the average turnaround time reduced to 16 days-a 46% improvement over the previous year. This was largely driven by the higher proportion of uncontested claims and enhanced processing systems. Of the scrutinised ads, 98% required some form of modification. Notably, 59% of the investigated ads were uncontested and were either withdrawn or modified by advertisers. Most violations stemmed from misleading claims due to lack of honest representation and promotion of harmful products or depictions of dangerous situations, the report said. A total of 3,347 ads fell under categories that are legally prohibited from advertising, including offshore betting, alcohol branding, and unauthorised forex trading apps, which are banned by the Reserve Bank of India. Additionally, 233 ads potentially violated the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act. ASCI reviewed 1,015 influencer ads during the year, with 98% requiring modifications. On LinkedIn alone, 121 violations were identified, largely due to professionals failing to disclose paid partnerships.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dill Mill Gayye fame Pankit Thakker responds after advertising company files complaint against him
'Dill Mill Gayye' fame Pankit Thakker has broken his silence regarding the recent issue involving a complaint lodged by an advertising agency against him. A complaint has been filed against actor Pankit Thakker currently seen in TV show, Saru and a notice has been issued to him by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). The complaint against Thakker is related to his recent ad campaign, which some have alleged is misleading or deceptive. While details about the complaint are still emerging, According to reports, the actor has been given 7 days to respond to the complaint. Failure to do so may lead to further action, which could potentially impact his reputation and future endorsement deals. When we reach out to the actor, he confirmed and added, "I shot for the D247 gaming app ad film. Upon receiving a complaint from the Advertising Standards Council of India, I'm consulting my legal team and will fully cooperate with the process. I will do whatever is required to address the concerns regarding potential violations of laws in the advertisement." Pankit Thakker stepped into the world of OTT with his debut film Moh Maaya, directed by Ankush Bhatt. Reflecting on his first digital venture, Pankit had earlier expressed, "It's a challenging role, I'm enjoying the process of bringing this character to life. This is a lead role, and I see this film as an opportunity. I love exploring new characters and bringing their stories to life. I think it's all about understanding the character's motivations and backstory. I try to connect with their emotions and experiences and then bring that to life on screen. This helps me manage to fully inhabit my characters and make them unique and memorable." Pankit Thakker has made a name for himself with notable roles in several popular television shows, including Kabhii Sautan Kabhii Sahelii, Dill Mill Gayye, Bahu Hamari Rajni Kant, Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha, and Bohot Pyaar Karte Hai, among others. Ankita steals the spotlight in a snazzy outfit
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Business Standard
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Ads for banned products up 24% in FY25; offshore betting dominates: ASCI
The number of advertisements (ads) for products or services prohibited by law has increased by 23.6 per cent to 3,347 in 2024-25, and a large chunk of the ads was from offshore, illegal betting platforms, according to the Annual Complaints Report released by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). Ads for products or services prohibited by law stood at 2,707 in the 2023-24 period. Out of these 3,347 ads, 3,081 were from offshore, illegal betting platforms. These 3,081 ads included 318 that pertained to influencers promoting such platforms. On the other hand, 233 ads potentially violated the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act; 21 promoted alcohol brands; and 12 ads promoted unauthorised forex trading apps banned by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). ASCI has been escalating these ads that are prohibited by law to regulators for appropriate action, it said in its report. With this, offshore betting and realty sectors emerge as the most violative ones as ads in these segments flagged by consumers rose to 83 per cent in the 2024-25 period. Overall, ASCI looked into 9,599 complaints and scrutinised 7,199 as. In this, 98 per cent of scrutinised ads required some form of modification. The offshore betting segment contributed 43 per cent of cases while the realty sector accounted for 24.9 per cent of cases, ASCI said in a release. 'This year has been one of meaningful collaborations as we expanded our efforts to address critical areas like offshore betting or gambling and real estate violations, which are high-impact violations,' said Manisha Kapoor, chief executive officer (CEO) and secretary general of ASCI, in a statement. The realty sector was followed by ads in the personal-care segment, contributing 5.7 per cent of cases, healthcare at 5.23 per cent, and food and beverage segment accounting for 4.69 per cent of the cases. Additionally, influencer violations contributed to 14 per cent of the ads processed, the report added. 'The rise in public complaints — and more importantly, how many advertisers chose to quietly comply — says a lot about where trust still lives,' said Partha Sinha, chairman, ASCI. Out of the 1,015 influencer ads investigated by ASCI, the ones in the illegal betting segment were highest at 31.4 per cent, followed by fashion and lifestyle at 16.2 per cent. 'ASCI's continued efforts have resulted in 83 per cent overall compliance, with TV and print showing near-perfect adherence (of ads) at 98 per cent,' the release said.
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Business Standard
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Offshore betting, real estate top ad violations in ASCI's 2024-25 report
Offshore betting platforms and real estate advertisements have emerged as the biggest violators in India's advertising landscape, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) revealed in its Annual Complaints Report for 2024-25. In a year that saw an 83 per cent surge in ads flagged by consumers, a staggering 98 per cent of all scrutinised ads required modifications, the report said. The self-regulatory watchdog processed 9,599 complaints and examined 7,199 advertisements over the past year. Offshore betting alone accounted for 43 per cent of all cases, followed by real estate at 24.9 per cent, personal care (5.7 per cent), healthcare (5.23 per cent), and food and beverage (4.69 per cent). In total, 3,081 ads of illegal offshore betting platforms were flagged, 318 of them promoted by social media influencers. These ads, along with others for unauthorised forex trading apps, alcohol, and magic remedies, fall under categories explicitly prohibited by law. Adding to concerns, 47.5 per cent of the total ads were found to promote harmful products or situations, while 56 per cent were deemed misleading. Influencer violations surge; LinkedIn also under scanner Influencer marketing came under tighter scrutiny this year, with ASCI investigating 1,015 influencer-led promotions. Nearly all (98 per cent) were found non-compliant with advertising disclosure norms. Notably, 121 of these violations occurred on LinkedIn, where professionals failed to mark paid partnerships clearly. This prompted ASCI to issue a targeted advisory aimed at ensuring transparency on the career-oriented platform. Influencer violations now account for 14 per cent of the ads processed by ASCI, underscoring the challenges of regulating brand endorsements in the age of algorithmic virality. Digital platforms far more non-compliant than TV or print Meanwhile, a staggering 94.4 per cent of the violative ads emerged from digital platforms, while TV and print trailed far behind at 2.6 per cent and 2.4 per cent respectively. The watchdog noted that 89 per cent of the ads were flagged through its own proactive monitoring, while complaints from external sources, including the general public, accounted for the remaining 11 per cent. Still, the public's role in holding advertisers accountable is growing, it said. Complaints from consumers jumped by over 83 per cent compared to the previous year. ASCI sees faster turnaround, high compliance with advisories ASCI also claimed a 46 per cent improvement in its average complaint resolution turnaround time, now down to 16 days. This acceleration was largely due to the growing number of advertisers (59 per cent) who chose to voluntarily withdraw or modify their ads when contacted. Overall, compliance with ASCI advisories stood at 83 per cent, with television and print media clocking near-perfect adherence at 98 per cent. The organisation credited this to streamlined processes and a significant drop in contested claims.
