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Working to regulate online ads: MIB
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) is working on rules for regulating online advertisements, it recently informed the parliamentary standing committee on communications and information technology.The committee, chaired by Lok Sabha MP Nishikant Dubey, had requested the ministry to update it on the status of the rules."MIB is in the process of formulating rules for regulation of online advertisements as per allocation of business. The committee would like to be apprised of the status of formulation of these rules for regulations of online advertisements," according to the committee's Third Report on Demands for Grants (2024-25) of MIB issued on December 16.As per the amended 'Allocation of Business Rules,' notified on July 28, 2023, the ministry’s mandate has expanded to include online ads alongside online content and digital news, in addition to satellite broadcasting, films, and FM radio.Industry experts say rapid growth of digital advertising has made it crucial to have broad regulations to ensure ethical and responsible practices."There is a need for guidelines to regulate online advertisements due to its massive reach and corresponding impact. While the industry has advocated for self-regulation, there is a necessity for government to set guidelines to provide direction to the self-regulation," said digital media expert Sajal Gupta. “Additionally, the government should address issues like consumer data usage in digital advertising and influencer marketing.”The ministry had earlier issued advisories prohibiting the advertising, promotion, and endorsement of activities deemed unlawful under various laws. These include surrogate ads, particularly in sectors like alcohol, tobacco, and betting to prevent indirect promotion of prohibited products.In November 2023, the ministry introduced the Digital Advertisement Policy 2023 to empower the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), the Union government's advertising wing, to hold digital media campaigns across video streaming, audio streaming, social media, and other mobile and web platforms. The policy also enabled competitive bidding for rate discovery to ensure transparency.Following a Supreme Court directive in May 2024, the MIB mandated that all new advertisements, effective June 18, 2024, must include a self-declaration certificate. However, the ministry further refined this mandate by requiring SDCs only for advertisements related to food and health products and services, modifying its original notification from June 3.Advertisers in these categories are required to certify that their advertisements do not contain misleading claims and comply with regulatory guidelines.
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