Updated Marketing Regulations for May 2021
In the realm of digital advertising, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the UK remains a steadfast regulator, ensuring compliance with its codes that apply to advertisements, sales promotions, and direct marketing across the UK [1][2][3]. The ASA, a self-regulatory body funded by the advertising industry, not the government, continues to monitor and enforce its jurisdiction in digital and social media advertising [1].
The ASA's jurisdiction covers advertising on companies' own websites and other non-paid-for online spaces under their control, as well as advertising on social media channels owned or controlled by companies, where content that relates to their products or services falls under ASA remit [2][3].
In 2021, the ASA published its Annual Report, focusing on protecting young and vulnerable people online [4][5]. However, a detailed study on protecting children online by the ASA in 2021 is not directly referenced in the available search results, and no definitive summary can be provided [6].
Meanwhile, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has resumed its investigation into the adtech industry, specifically real-time bidding (RTB) and the adtech industry [7]. The ICO has been active in scrutinizing data privacy in adtech, but no specific findings or updates from the 2021 investigation are included in the search results provided [7].
The UK's draft online safety legislation is still awaited [8][9]. The ASA has also been cracking down on a number of retailers making unreasonable or misleading price claims [10].
In addition, a webinar titled "Digital Commerce, Platforms and Social Media: Online Harms" was recently held, covering the Digital Services Act and various legislation such as NetzDG and the upcoming UK online safety law [11]. A recording of the international media and entertainment webinar program is available on the website [11].
For those interested in learning more about the UK and EU Digital Regulation timeline, providing information on laws and regulations currently in force and in development, it can be found online [12].
References:
[1] https://www.asa.org.uk/about-asa/who-we-are [2] https://www.asa.org.uk/Codes-and-rulings/About-our-codes/Non-broadcast-rules [3] https://www.asa.org.uk/Codes-and-rulings/About-our-codes/Non-broadcast-rules/Social-media-guidance [4] https://www.asa.org.uk/resource/asa-annual-report-2021.html [5] https://www.asa.org.uk/resource/asa-annual-report-2021-summary.html [6] https://www.asa.org.uk/resource/asa-annual-report-2021.html [7] https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/news-and-events/news-and-blogs/2020/04/real-time-bidding-and-the-adtech-industry/ [8] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-online-safety-bill/draft-online-safety-bill [9] https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/digital-technology-and-online-harms-committee/news-parliament-2019/online-safety-bill-draft-published-17-10-2020/ [10] https://www.asa.org.uk/news/asa-cracks-down-on-unreasonable-price-claims.html [11] https://www.pwc.co.uk/services/media-entertainment/digital-commerce-platforms-and-social-media-online-harms-webinar.html [12] https://www.digitalregulation.gov.uk/timeline/
In the context of investments, one might consider commercial ventures within the real-estate sector, given that the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), a UK regulatory body, extends its jurisdiction to advertising on companies' own websites and social media channels, where content related to their products or services falls under ASA remit [1][2][3].
Conversely, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), another UK regulatory body, is active in investigating data privacy, specifically in the adtech industry, but no specific findings or updates from their 2021 investigation were found in the search results [7].
