When one of our supporters came across an Instagram ad marketing child sex abuse dolls available for purchase, she went straight to Ad Standards to lodge a complaint. Not only did the doll seller account promote the sale of replica little girls for men’s sexual use, it is illegal to advertise these products in Australia.
Days later, she received a response from Ad Standards informing her they would not be reviewing the child sex abuse doll advertisement. Why?
“We are unable to assist you because we do not handle complaints about social media posted over three months ago. Your complaint is best directed to the advertiser."
However, Ad Standards reviewed and ruled on two social media ads that had been posted in January – five months ago – this very month. See here and here.
Was this ‘policy’ invented in response to our supporter’s complaint?
We question the purpose of Ad Standards limiting – yet again – the advertising they are willing to review. Advertising continues to function as advertising as long as it is being used. What difference is there between social media ads posted three months ago and two and a half months ago, if it is still operational and being used for the purpose of advertising?
This apparent policy is just Ad Standards’ latest attempt to limit the scope of ad content to be reviewed – because if they are forced to rule on illegal content that promotes replica children as objects for men’s sexual gratification, they can no longer claim the system works.
In order to preserve the pretence that ad industry self-regulation works well, it is easier to just refuse to review ads that are obviously in breach of the code of ethics and where advertisers will be unlikely to comply with rulings.
Instead of doing their job – regulating advertising – Ad Standards has directed a community member to approach a child sex abuse doll seller and direct complaints to a company already flouting the law by advertising child sex abuse dolls illegally. What outcome are they expecting?
So far, we’ve identified 34 reasons why the current system of ad industry self-regulation is a failure. Let’s call this one 35.
Take Action!
Use our easy action button below to contact the Australian Association of National Advertisers and demand an overhaul to self regulation. Remember to add in the reasons why this matters to you. We will make more of an impact if each email is unique.
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