Govt moots a unified mechanism to tackle misleading ads

In a move to tackle complaints against misleading ads, the Government is planning to introduce a unified system that will collect and manage all complaints received against misleading ads, as per media reports. This unified mechanism is expected to ensure a more efficient and seamless handling of issues.

The Government’s plans are expected to be presented to the Supreme Court later this week by the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting and Consumer Affairs as part of the response to the apex court’s censure that the government was not registering enough complaints received against companies’ misleading health claims.

At present, consumers can lodge their complaints against misleading ads with the Broadcast Seva, the Press Council of India and the National Consumer Helpline.