Offensive

Although they only account for a small part of the ASA’s work, complaints about taste and decency are often the most high profile.

Upheld decisions can result in widespread adverse publicity for the company concerned and marketers can be required to have posters pre-vetted by CAP’s Copy Advice team for two years if they publish an offensive poster.

The rules state ads must not contain anything that is likely to cause serious or widespread offence, and specifies that special care must be taken to avoid causing offence on the grounds of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability and age.

When making a decision on whether an ad is likely to cause widespread offence, we take into account: the audience who are likely to see the ad; the context in which the ad appears; the product it’s promoting; and prevailing standards in society. To help judge those standards, from time-to-time, we commission major consumer research to find out what concerns people and where they think the line should be drawn.

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Latest rulings

John Mills Ltd t/a JML Direct
- Upheld
- Television
- 27 March 2024
A TV ad for a cleaning tool presented gender stereotypes in a way that was likely to cause harm.
Gamehaus Network Technology Co Ltd
- Upheld
- App (paid ad)
- 24 January 2024
An in-app ad for a mobile game featuring an incestuous relationship, suggesting a child had been sexualised and groomed by an adult and portraying a child in a sexual way was likely to cause serious and widespread offence.
Grandbing Technology Co Ltd t/a On Fancy
- Upheld
- Internet (website content)
- 24 January 2024
A website for an online clothing retailer portrayed a child in a sexual way and was irresponsible.
Outsourceful Ltd t/a Outsourceful
- Upheld
- Email, Internet (website content)
- 24 January 2024
An email and website for a recruitment agency perpetuated harmful racial stereotypes and were likely to cause serious offence.

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Offensive

Although they only account for a small part of the ASA’s work, complaints about taste and decency are often the most high profile.

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