ASA to take over Facebook, Twitter regulation
Remit to include social media
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Advertising regulator the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) will take over the regulation of companies' social networking pages by the end of the year, according to advertising industry proposals.
The ASA hopes that the move will plug a regulatory gap that has resulted in two thirds of the complaints it receives relating to activity over which it has no authority.
Trade body the Advertising Association has recommended that the ASA regulate companies' activity on sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
"This landmark move for advertising self-regulation seeks to address societal concerns and will increase protection for consumers and children," said an Advertising Association statement. "The recommendations, if accepted, will bring companies’ marketing communications on their own websites, and other non-paid for space online, such as brand activity on social networking sites, within scope of the CAP Code."
The CAP (Committee of Advertising Practice) Code is the basis of the ASA's regulation. The ASA has welcomed the move.
"Currently, the ASA’s online remit covers paid-for marketing communications such as pop-up and banner ads, paid-search and viral ads," said an ASA statement. "However, nearly two thirds of the complaints that we receive about online marketing activity are not presently covered by the Code. The proposed extension of our remit will plug this regulatory gap, ensuring that consumers enjoy the same level of protection on websites as they do in paid-for space."
"This is a direct and sensible response to people’s concerns about the protection of consumers and children online," said ASA chairman Lord Smith of Finsbury. "We know from our active monitoring work that where the Code applies, there is very high compliance with the rules and ASA decisions. This … is another example of the self-regulatory system responding to social and technological changes."
The ASA currently regulates adverts on websites and other forms of paid-for marketing. These include viral adverts, games that act as adverts, paid-for search listings and spots on price comparison services, and adverts in games. These recommendations will extend their influence to cover the overall content of companies' social networking sites, which is material companies usually host themselves rather than pay other companies to publish.
The Advertising Association said that the changes could take effect by the end of the year.
"It is anticipated that the extended remit will come into force during the third quarter of 2010, once formally ratified by CAP and the ASA, and after appropriate consultation," said the Advertising Association statement.
"We welcome the complex work undertaken by industry to finalise recommendations that cover three key principles - a newly defined online remit, effective enforcement measures and a funding mechanism," said CAP chairman Andrew Brown. "CAP will now consider all the implications and practicalities of the recommendations in consultation with the appropriate stakeholders, with the ultimate aim of bringing the new remit into effect as soon as possible."
Copyright © 2010, OUT-LAW.com
OUT-LAW.COM is part of international law firm Pinsent Masons.
COMMENTS
So the ASA
will officially be able to whitewash your complaint rather than pass the buck as they do now. Great news for users, I don't think so. ASA , one Quango that definately needs to be got rid of by whichever party gets into power in May.
Missing the point.
You are so far from the point it's hard to believe. Companies are abusing social network sites in order to advertise. Is that what you really want?
The ASA are to be empowered to control companies using social networking sites to advertise. Not to censor the use of those sites in what their users would consider to be their true spirit. Of course the true spirt of these sites as far as their owners are concerned is to make money, and how do they do that? Advertising.
And while they're at it I think they should ban all political parties from using social network sites for electioneering.
Easy for you to say
It's easy for you to tell us this story, but without any evidence to back it up your post is meaningless. Of course you would say that wouldn't you? You're hardly likely to say "we were completely in the wrong". Which is of course why we need a body like the ASA. Unfortunately, as the first poster pointed out, the ASA don't uphold enough complaints.
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