The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has released its Half-Yearly Complaints Report for 2024-25, revealing a significant rise in non-compliant advertisements, particularly in the real estate and offshore betting sectors. Between April and September 2024, ASCI processed 4,016 complaints and investigated 3,031 ads, with 98% requiring modifications. Real estate ads accounted for 34% of violations, with 1,027 ads flagged to the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA). Ads promoting offshore betting made up 29%, with a high volume found on Instagram fan pages and influencers, leading to 890 ads reported to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB).
ASCI’s proactive monitoring of digital platforms played a crucial role, with 93% of the ads processed from online sources. The council reduced its complaint resolution time from 30 to 18 days, emphasizing efficiency. Notably, 53% of the non-compliant ads were withdrawn voluntarily by advertisers.
In Kolkata, the growing reliance on digital advertising has raised concerns, particularly with the rise of illegal betting promotions on social media platforms. The collaboration between ASCI and government regulators is helping curb these deceptive practices, ensuring greater accountability in the city’s advertising landscape.
