Sex store sets new record for ad violations with BDSM-porn themed ads

Honey Birdette is keeping Ad Standards busy. Last month the self-regulated ad industry adjudicator reviewed community complaints against a whopping 12 different BDSM-porn themed ads displayed in the sex store’s shop windows.

Westfield-based sex shop chain racks up 50th violation

[*Updated*] Repeat offender untouchable under ad industry self regulation

Honey Birdette has rolled out a new porny ad campaign - before the self-regulated industry “watchdog” Ad Standards has even finished ruling on ads from its last campaign. In this latest show of ad industry self-regulation failure, the sex store’s upskirting and tennis-themed ads were bumped to make way for a new objectifying and porn-inspired casino-themed campaign - timed ahead of the opening of its new Las Vegas store - dubbed ‘Lucky Number’. 

House Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence

As expected: "The advertiser has not provided a response to the Panel's determination"

"Sexism is not always obviously violent, exploitative or degrading. It can be unintended or disguised innocently as humour, but it is always insidious, offensive to and exclusionary of its victims."

Collective Shout call for financial penalties for repeat offenders

We've spent years dealing with Ad Standards, and in this time, we've seen the many flaws in the system- one we argue needs a complete upheaval. Of course, the industry likes things exactly the way they are. As the Australia Institute said in the Letting Children Be Children report, "… advertisers also have an interest in avoiding government scrutiny that may lead to stronger regulation of advertising in the interests of the general public…Self-regulation is a strategy that enables the industry to avoid such scrutiny."

We've made a list of flaws in the current system, and narrowed it down to 25. 

It's no secret that the advertising industry's preferred model of regulation, self-regulation, has failed. Despite various government inquiries exploring the many flaws in the current system, as well as condemnation from child health professionals and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) the advertising industry has been given free reign to regulate themselves to the detriment of the community, in particular, children.

Click to read submission (PDF)