Archive · 13 Nov 2025
Digital Ads Dominate Violations, Up 70% in ASCI's Half-Yearly Report
Imagine a watchdog called ASCI that checks ads to make sure they are honest and safe for people.
In the first half of 2025, they found many more ads breaking the rules than before!
Most of these bad ads were on the internet, like on social media apps or websites, and almost all of them were about illegal betting.
Even famous online helpers, called influencers, weren't always honest about who paid them to promote things.
While many people fixed their ads when asked, some still tried to sneak through with dishonest ads.
The watchdog is working hard with the government to catch these ads and make sure online ads are fair for everyone.
Digital media accounts for 97% of all advertising violations reported to ASCI between April and September 2025.
Illegal betting ads, often disguised as gaming promotions, are the most prevalent violation, making up a significant portion of flagged advertisements.
Influencer advertisements faced increased scrutiny, with 98% requiring modification, primarily for failing to disclose paid collaborations and promoting disallowed products.
The number of complaints and advertisements processed saw a substantial rise of 70% and 102% respectively compared to the same period last year, due to enhanced surveillance.
Despite challenges, voluntary compliance rates among advertisers and influencers increased, with a majority of violations being corrected without contest.
- Who
- Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) and regulatory bodies like the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre
- What
- ASCI's Half-Yearly Complaints Report (2025-26) reveals a significant increase in advertising violations, with digital media accounting for 97% of all non-compliant ads, particularly concerning illegal betting and influencer marketing.
- When
- April to September 2025
- Where
- India, with a strong focus on digital platforms like Meta and Google.
- Why
- Increased surveillance, consumer vigilance, and collaboration with regulators have led to the detection of a higher number of violations, especially in the digital space.
- Reporting Period
- April - September 2025
- Complaints Reviewed
- 6,841
- Advertisements Investigated
- 6,117
- Advertisements Requiring Modification
- 98%
- Increase in Complaints (YoY)
- 70%
- Increase in Ads Processed (YoY)
- 102%
- Digital Violations Percentage
- 97%