The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has released its Half-Yearly Complaints Report for 2024-25, highlighting a surge in misleading ads, particularly in the real estate and offshore betting sectors. Between April and September 2024, ASCI reviewed 4,016 complaints and investigated 3,031 advertisements, with 98% of them requiring modifications.
Real estate ads emerged as the top violator, accounting for 34% of cases, with 1,027 ads reported to Maharashtra’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA). Additionally, illegal offshore betting ads continued to dominate, making up 29% of flagged cases. A significant number of these ads were found on digital platforms, particularly Instagram, where they exploited fan pages and influencers to promote betting services.
ASCI’s proactive approach to monitoring digital ads led to a reduction in complaint resolution time, dropping from 30 to 18 days. In a positive shift, 53% of non-compliant ads were voluntarily withdrawn by advertisers. In Kolkata, the region has seen a marked increase in the adoption of digital platforms for advertising, with concerns growing over the use of social media to promote illegal betting and real estate ads. The collaboration between ASCI and government bodies is making strides in addressing these issues, creating a more transparent and compliant advertising environment in the city.
