Campaigners slam ASA digital remit extension

Children’s health campaigners warned today that the Advertising Standards Authority’s new remit to cover companies’ "own marketing communications on their own websites" and "other non-paid-for space online under their control", such as social networking sites, will be too weak to protect children from junk food marketers.

Children’s Food Campaign Coordinator Christine Haigh, said:

"Extending regulation to online marketing is years overdue. Sadly though, these voluntary standards lack the strength or enforcement measures needed to protect children from sophisticated junk food marketing. The rules are open to interpretation, and are only applied if a complaint is made, with guilty marketers facing very limited sanctions."