Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 16 MARCH 2020

UK ASA Bans Coronavirus-Related Ad For Causing "Serious And Widespread Offense"

Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Contributor
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC

Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC

Founded more than 40 years ago as a boutique law firm servicing the entertainment and arts...

View firm profile
Explore more from Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC

The ad, which ran in February, showed a picture of a mattress which was covered by the British flag and was wearing a surgical mask.

United KingdomMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Jeffrey Greenbaum
Jeffrey Greenbaum
Author LinkedIn connections

The UK's Advertising Standards Authority just banned a print ad for Vic Smith Beds, which references the coronavirus health crisis, on the grounds that the ad causes "serious and widespread offense."

The ad, which ran in February, showed a picture of a mattress which was covered by the British flag and was wearing a surgical mask. The headline read, "BRITISH BUILD BEDS PROUDLY MADE IN THE UK. NO NASTY IMPORTS." The ASA received complaints about the ad, saying that the ad was likely to cause offense because it linked the coronavirus health crisis to nationality or race.

The ASA agreed, finding that "in combination with the image, the reference to 'nasty imports' was likely to be read as a negative reference to immigration or race, and in particular as associating immigrants with disease."

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

www.fkks.com

This post first appeared in Frankfurt Kurnit's Focus on the Data blog (www.focusonthedata.com). It provides general coverage of its subject area. We provide it with the understanding that Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz is not engaged herein in rendering legal advice, and shall not be liable for any damages resulting from any error, inaccuracy, or omission. Our attorneys practice law only in jurisdictions in which they are properly authorized to do so. We do not seek to represent clients in other jurisdictions.

Originally published by the New York Legal Ethics Reporter

www.fkks.com

This alert provides general coverage of its subject area. We provide it with the understanding that Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz is not engaged herein in rendering legal advice, and shall not be liable for any damages resulting from any error, inaccuracy, or omission. Our attorneys practice law only in jurisdictions in which they are properly authorized to do so. We do not seek to represent clients in other jurisdictions.

www.fkks.com

This alert provides general coverage of its subject area. We provide it with the understanding that Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz is not engaged herein in rendering legal advice, and shall not be liable for any damages resulting from any error, inaccuracy, or omission. Our attorneys practice law only in jurisdictions in which they are properly authorized to do so. We do not seek to represent clients in other jurisdictions.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Evolution Delivered: What Regulation (EU) 2026/2202 Means For EU261 Reform

The European Union has enacted its most comprehensive overhaul of passenger rights legislation in over twenty years, introducing significant operational changes for airlines while maintaining the core architecture of the existing compensation framework. With implementation required by October 2027, carriers face expanded obligations around automatic reimbursements, rerouting rights, and assistance provisions, alongside new clarity on extraordinary circumstances and claims procedures.
European UnionMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Burges Salmon LLP
Burges Salmon LLP
Article

The EU Kids Act: Not Just A Social Media Ban, And Not Just An EU Problem

The European Commission has proposed the EU KIDS Act, a comprehensive regulation that extends far beyond a simple social media ban for under-13s. This ambitious framework introduces tiered age-based restrictions, safety-by-design obligations across digital services including AI chatbots and online games, and mandatory certified age-verification systems. With potential fines reaching 6% of global turnover and enforcement mechanisms piggybacking on existing DSA machinery, organisations offering digital servic
European UnionMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Burges Salmon LLP
Burges Salmon LLP
Article

Manchester City Decision: A Landmark Moment For Sports Regulation

The independent Commission's findings against Manchester City FC for serious breaches of Premier League financial rules have sparked crucial debates about transparency, disciplinary processes, and the future of sports regulation. This landmark decision raises fundamental questions about how sporting bodies balance fairness, consistency, and regulatory discretion when enforcing financial compliance rules. The case's implications extend far beyond football, offering insights into regulatory frameworks, sancti
United KingdomMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Olliers Solicitors
Olliers Solicitors
Article

EU Kids Act: What Do The Planned Age Restrictions And Safety Requirements For Minors Online Mean For Providers?

The European Commission has proposed the EU KIDS Act, introducing comprehensive restrictions on minors' access to social media and video-sharing platforms while imposing extensive online safety requirements across digital services. This landmark legislation will require businesses to implement safety-by-design frameworks, age verification systems, and guardian controls, with particularly stringent compliance obligations for Very Large Online Platforms that must prove their services are safe through independ
European UnionMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Winston Taylor
Winston Taylor
Article

HFSS: ASA Rulings Provide Clarity On Where “brand Advertising” Ends And Product Advertising Begins

The UK's Advertising Standards Authority has issued new guidance on how it will enforce restrictions on advertising less healthy food and drink products online and on television. Through several July 2026 rulings involving major brands like M&M's, Domino's, and KFC, the ASA clarified when the 'brand advertising exemption' applies and when product imagery crosses the line into depicting specific restricted products.
United KingdomMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
RPC
RPC
Article

Amway To Pay $225 Million Over Alleged False Earnings Claims And Fabricated Sales

The FTC and Washington state secured a record $225 million settlement from Amway and affiliated groups over allegations they misled recruits about earnings potential while pressuring them to buy products with little retail opportunity. The complaint reveals that over three-quarters of U.S. product volume was sold to IBOs themselves rather than retail customers, with fabricated sales reporting masking the recruitment-driven model. The settlement's injunctive provisions establish new standards for earnings cl
United StatesConsumer Protection
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Article

UMG v. DistroKid: When AI Becomes A Consumer Protection Issue

Universal Music Group's lawsuit against DistroKid raises a critical question about AI disclosure in consumer markets: when does the use of artificial intelligence become material information that must be disclosed to consumers? The case centers on allegations that DistroKid distributed mass-generated AI music while creating the impression it was created by legitimate human artists, potentially violating existing consumer protection laws even without specific AI disclosure requirements.
United StatesIntellectual Property
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Article

Selling Company Data For AI Training: What To Know Before You Say Yes

AI developers are seeking new sources of training data, including internal operational data like Slack messages, emails, and company documents. Companies are now receiving offers to sell their workplace data, but such transactions raise complex legal questions around data rights, privacy commitments, employee protections, and long-term competitive risks that require careful evaluation before proceeding.
United StatesPrivacy
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Article

FTC Issues Guidance On "Price Transparency" For Auto Dealers

The Federal Trade Commission has issued new guidance requiring auto dealers to display transparent, all-inclusive pricing in their advertisements, mandating that the advertised price must be the actual amount any consumer can pay, excluding only government-required charges. The comprehensive FAQ addresses critical questions about how dealers should handle document fees, online pricing displays, representative photos, and responsibilities shared between dealers, third-party advertisers, and OEMs.
United StatesConsumer Protection
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Article

Not Just A Selfie: The New BIPA Theory Aimed At Generative AI

Illinois resident Scott Wilson has filed a putative class action against xAI, alleging that its Grok chatbot violates the Biometric Information Privacy Act by capturing facial geometry scans when users upload selfies for analysis or editing. This case represents a significant expansion of BIPA litigation into the generative AI space, where multimodal models routinely process human faces as ordinary inputs without explicit biometric collection disclosures.
United StatesPrivacy
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Article

California Legislation: End-Of-Session Check-In

California's legislature has sent a comprehensive package of privacy, AI, and advertising bills to Governor Newsom's desk, with decisions due by September 30, 2026. The legislation addresses sensitive personal information protections, data broker obligations, AI-powered chatbot regulations, and digital replica rights, potentially reshaping how businesses handle consumer data and automated decision-making systems. Will these bills become law and set new national standards for technology regulation?
United StatesPrivacy
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Article

Hasan Piker Sues Scott Jennings For $72.5 Million

A high-profile defamation lawsuit tests the boundaries of free speech protections when political commentators manipulate video clips and fabricate quotes. As AI technology makes it increasingly easy to doctor content, this case could establish crucial precedent for how courts handle deliberately altered quotations and deepfake-style media manipulation in the digital age.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC