Ad Standards has had a busy first half of 2025, with 144 ads flagged for Community Panel assessment from January to June – offering a revealing snapshot of the issues that spark community concern. Of the 144 ads, 46 were found in breach of the rules, 84 were found not in breach, and 14 were removed or modified prior to Community Panel review.
Health and safety was the leading issue considered by the Community Panel, with 48 ads reviewed under this section of the Code of Ethics. This reflects the community’s expectation that advertising should not depict or encourage unsafe behaviour, especially when it’s likely to be copied by children.
In total, 14 ads were found in breach of the health and safety rules which covered a wide range of issues including promoting drug use, condoning abusive behaviours, and showing risky actions involving e-bikes.
Sex, sexuality and nudity was the second most concerning issue, with 38 ads reviewed and 8 found in breach, including digital ads for web novels. Concerns about violence followed, with 27 ads reviewed and 16 breaches including ads for a delivery service, movie trailer and perfume.
This year we’ve also seen the introduction of the new AANA Environmental Claims Code. The new Code sets a higher benchmark for environmental claims in advertising. To date, 6 cases have been assessed under the new Code with 2 breaches, both related to the promotion of gas energy.
We’ve also received complaints about AI content as it becomes more common in advertising. As we outline in our recent article, New tech, same rules, whether it’s AI-generated imagery or content, the same rules apply. Advertisers must ensure that their use of new technology still aligns with the existing rules.
You can find all the latest decisions from the Ad Standards Community Panel at https://adstandards.com.au/cases/.
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