The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has threatened to file legal actions against Meta Inc, owners of Facebook and a number of other social media apps.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports ARCON threatened the legal actions against Meta for allowing the exposure of fake and unethical advertisements on Facebook and Instagram.
The regulatory council disclosed that the legal actions would be extended to the advertisers and the advertisement agencies that engage in the exposure of the unethical advertisements.
ARCON identified some of the fake and unethical advertisements to include image and voice of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s advertisement of cure for prostatitis (prostate cancer) for Dr Zayo Mokoena.
Others, the council said, are image and voice of Mr. Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television’s advertisement of erectile dysfunction for Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme and Nigeria Custom Services’ impounded cars and bags of rice with solicitation for auction patronage from the general public.
“A preliminary investigation shows that both Pastor Adeboye and Mr. Okinbaloye’s advertisements are computer/Al generated.
“The images and voices were used with the intention to mislead the public while the Nigerian Custom Services’ advertisement is a scam with the intention to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.
“These and other similar advertisements have been monitored on Facebook and Instagram platforms owned by Meta Inc.
“ARCON will take all necessary steps including legal actions to sanction platform owners, advertisers, and advertisement agencies that engage in the exposure of unethical advertisements,” a statement by the council reads in part.
The council further disclosed that a special monitoring and enforcement task force had been mandated to track advertisements across all social media platforms to swiftly identify and flag non-compliant advertisements.
“We urge the public to also support this initiative by reporting any advertisement which appears deceptive, unethical, illegal, and/or those with unrealistic claims/promises.
“As we continue to work towards building a more ethical and consumer-protective advertising environment in Nigeria, we call on all stakeholders and the advertising community to recommit to the principles of truthful, legal, decent, and responsible advertising.
“The era of false and misleading advertising, advertisement and marketing communication is over,” the statement released on Friday by Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Director General of ARCON concluded.