for happier, healthier cities
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the UK’s advertising regulator, is in the spotlight after declining to investigate claims that its own adverts were misleading. The story illustrates the many concerns and criticisms Adfree Cities has previously voiced about the ASA. Adverts from the ASA, seen in public spaces in July, featured claims including that the…Continue reading UK ad regulation under fire as watchdog refuses to investigate own ads
In May 2024, Adfree Cities raised concerns to the Advertising Standards Authority that ads promoting the RSPCA were misleading citizens over the charity’s work to protect animals from cruelty, by failing to mention the RSPCA’s formal certification of intensive farming methods that systematically expose farm animals to cruelty, harm and slaughter. Press contacts: veronica@adfreecities.org.uk, 07517…Continue reading Ad watchdog greenlights RSPCA’s ‘Kindness’ ads despite factory farming links
Adfree Cities are concerned that the UK advertising watchdog’s contradictory rulings on two adverts from fossil companies, TotalEnergies and Shell, demonstrate a failure to properly regulate greenwash ads. …Continue reading Ad watchdog’s “double standards” on fossil fuel rulings
Following a complaint filed by Adfree Cities, the UK advertising regulator has banned Lloyds Bank’s “low carbon economy” advert for greenwashing. The watchdog said the ad would mislead the public and businesses by failing to mention Lloyds’ “large contribution” to global climate-harming emissions. For press enquiries, call 07517 408513 or email hello[at]adfreecities.org.uk An advert for…Continue reading Lloyds Bank ads banned for greenwashing
Back in June, Adfree Cities and others raised concerns to the Advertising Standards Authority that a series of ads promoting the RSPCA’s Assured Scheme are misleading citizens over the charity’s work to protect animals from cruelty by failing to mention the RSPCA’s formal certification of farming methods that systematically expose farm animals to cruelty, harm…Continue reading ASA to investigate RSPCA ads after Adfree Cities complaint
Adfree Cities travelled to Manchester to host a panel at the Green Party Conference’s ‘fringe-fringe’ event, Hopeful Humanity. Our event, which was entitled ‘Our Space not Ad Space: reclaiming public space from harmful advertising’ covered the psychological damage of advertising, the limitations of the current regulating authority, and the ways that communities can fight back against it…Continue reading Our Space not Ad Space: Adfree Cities at the Green Party Conference