Govt Issues Advisories, Takes Action Against Violations; Media Asked to Refrain from Ads of Online Betting Platforms

BuzzBytes
New Delhi, Mar 18: The government has taken action against violations of advertising norms and advised media to refrain from publishing advertisements of online betting platforms and their surrogate products, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan said that as per the existing regulatory framework, all advertisements telecast on private satellite TV channels are required to adhere to the Advertising Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and rules framed thereunder.
The Advertising Code provides that no advertisement shall contain references likely to lead the public to infer that the product or its ingredients has special, miraculous or supernatural properties difficult to prove. It also bars advertisements that endanger the safety of children or create unhealthy interests, and those violating the Code for self-regulation in advertising adopted by the Advertising Standard Council of India (ASCI).
The Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021 provide a statutory three-tier mechanism for redressal of grievances related to content broadcast by television channels. The structure includes self-regulation by broadcasters, self-regulation by bodies of broadcasters, and oversight by the Central Government.
Rule 16 of the rules allows any person aggrieved by content not conforming to the Advertising Code to file a complaint with the broadcaster. Complaints related to the ASCI code may be addressed to the Council, which must decide within 60 days.
An Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) hears complaints regarding violations of the Programme Code and Advertising Code. Based on its recommendations, action against private TV channels includes issuance of advisories, warnings, apology scrolls, and off-air orders.
For content of Digital News Publishers and OTT platforms, the Ministry issued advisories on June 13, 2022, October 3, 2022, and April 6, 2023, directing print, electronic and digital media to refrain from publishing advertisements of online betting platforms or their surrogate products.
In compliance with the Supreme Court order of May 7, 2024, the Ministry launched a feature on the Broadcast Seva Portal for TV/Radio advertisements and the Press Council of India Portal for print/internet advertisements for uploading Self-Declaration Certificates (SDC). An advisory was issued on July 3, 2024, requiring advertisers to upload annual SDCs for food and health sector advertisements.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs issued “Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisement Rules, 2022” on June 9, 2022, laying down guidelines for preventing false or misleading advertisements. Complaints are addressed under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
The information was submitted in response to questions raised by MPs Suresh Kumar Shetkar and Vijayakumar alias Vijay Vasanth.