How To Evaluate Social Responsibility In Advertisements?

The Advertisement Board ("Board") made a striking decision at its meeting on January 9, 2024. The decision is based on the provision of the Regulation on Commercial Advertising and Unfair Commercial Practices ("Regulation") which emphasizes the necessity of taking economic and social responsibility into consideration in advertisements. The decision in question pertains to the introduction of the collection titled "The Jacket" by the global textile giant Zara on their Instagram page, https://www.instagram.com/zara. The promotional presentation of this clothing collection comprises of visuals showing mannequins wrapped in white fabric and wooden crates are shown.

In its examination of the images in question which were subject to complaint, the Board concluded that the white fabric wrapped mannequins and wooden crates seen on the floor create an impression of shrouds and wooden coffins, and thus violating Article 7 of the Regulation, titled "Accuracy and Honesty",