The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has released its 2022 Annual Report today.
Outlined in the report were the ASA’s priorities, with highlights of crucial complaint statistics provided.
The ASA received 843 complaints about 345 advertisements in 2022, with advocacy advertising responsible for nearly 30 percent of the cases. This category included advertising from Government agencies, interest groups, and charities.
The Chair of the Complaints Board identified 143 of these advertisements to be reviewed by the Board, and 102 were either upheld or settled, with the content to be changed or removed.
With high industry support, voluntary compliance with ASA decisions in 2022 was 96 percent.
ASA Chief Executive Hilary Souter said the report reflects a shift in the ASA’s regulatory approach.
“In 2022, reducing our complaints to more normal levels allowed us to focus on increasing proactive regulation through industry training and guidance,” said Souter.
Souter continued that one of the strengths of self-regulation was the ASA’s ability to adapt to a dynamic media environment, whether fluctuating complaint levels or developing new training and guidance tools.
Click here for more information regarding the report.
