Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1999/06/16/nortel_ties_itself_in_knots/

Nortel ties itself in knots over mental health ‘slur’

You don't have to be mad to work here, but it helps

By Linda Harrison

Posted in On-Prem, 16th June 1999 17:42 GMT

Nortel Networks has got its wrists slapped for using a man in a straitjacket in a magazine advertisement. The Carers and Users Support Enterprise for Mental Health objected to Nortel’s recruitment advert in the Belfast Telegraph. Headed "We’re coming to take you away", it featured a wide-eyed man with a manic grin, in a straitjacket. The Advertising Standards Authority deemed the article capable of causing "serious or widespread offence", and asked Nortel not to use a similar approach again. Also in the ASA doghouse is Tech Imports Company. It was asked to stop making claims that its "radiation eliminator" reduced health damage from mobile phones. The Surrey-based company said its product eliminated up to 97 per cent of radiation emissions. The ASA said there was no proof the eliminator worked, or that mobile phones would continue to operate normally if it did.®