Picture perfect? ASA rules against fake reviews and testimonials
The ASA has upheld complaints against a hair styling tool brand over fake endorsements and testimonials and misattributed influencer content.
The ASA has upheld complaints against a hair styling tool brand over fake endorsements and testimonials and misattributed influencer content.
A claim that consumers could eliminate the environmental impact of a specific flight by purchasing a voluntary carbon offsetting package was found to be unsubstantiated.
The EU’s EmpCo Directive, which applies from 27 September 2026, bans a wide range of greenwashing practices and introduces mandatory point-of-sale information obligations for traders selling to consumers in the EU.
CAP has published a new guide and a checklist and updated its environmental claims guidance to help advertisers make compliant and substantiated green claims.
The ASA has found that Motorpoint’s ad claiming that consumers could save “up to £17,000” on nearly new used cars did not accurately represent the true nature of the sale and was misleading.
The ASA has upheld a complaint against Beauty Pie’s LED mask ad claiming “clinically proven” results, finding that the supporting studies were insufficient to substantiate the claim.
The ASA has ruled that UNIQLO’s “recycled materials” claim in an ad for fleece coats and jackets was misleading, as the evidence did not demonstrate that the products were made entirely from recycled materials.
The ASA issues further rulings under the “less healthy” food and drink advertising restrictions.
Research commissioned by the ASA into consumer attitudes to the provision of material information in online ads finds that consumers generally accept material information being “one click away”, though they expect key details upfront in higher-risk contexts. The findings do not alter the ASA’s existing regulatory approach under the Advertising Codes.
The ASA’s report on environmental claims in UK online advertising finds that, while such claims are relatively rare, they frequently use high-risk absolute terms such as “eco-friendly” and “sustainable” that require significant substantiation under the CAP Code.
The ASA finds harmful gender stereotype in a DIY ad.
The ASA ruled that 111skin’s “Exosome Face Lift” product listing made efficacy claims that could not be substantiated and exaggerated the effects of the product, in breach of the CAP Code.