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9/01/2022 - Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Refers Vyvo Earnings Claims to the Federal Trade Commission for Possible Enforcement Action
McLean, VA – September 1, 2022 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) of BBB National Programs referred certain Vyvo, Inc. earnings claims to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for possible enforcement action after the direct selling company marketing a smartwatch, DNA and genetics testing, as well as nutritional supplements, failed to respond to DSSRC’s inquiry.
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8/24/2022 - National Advertising Review Board Recommends CoStar Group Discontinue Apartments.com Claim “The Most Popular Place to Find a Place”
New York, NY – August 24, 2022 – A panel of the National Advertising Review Board (NARB), the appellate advertising law body of BBB National Programs, recommended that CoStar Group, Inc. discontinue the claim “The Most Popular Place to Find a Place” and that it modify certain advertising to make clear that it is directed only to the rental market.
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8/18/2022 - National Advertising Division Recommends T-Mobile Discontinue Claims that Consumers Can “Save Up to 50%” with T-Mobile Home Internet
New York, NY – August 18, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that T-Mobile discontinue claims that consumers can “save up to 50% vs. National FCC Broadband Rate Benchmark” with T-Mobile Home Internet (T-HINT) and the implied claims that a consumer will save up to 50% if they purchase T-Mobile internet versus the same or a comparable service level of internet from other providers (including the challenger, Charter Communications, Inc.).
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8/18/2022 - National Advertising Division Finds T-Mobile Home Internet Availability Claim Supported, but Recommends “Save Up to 50%” Claim be Discontinued
New York, NY – August 18, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined T-Mobile US provided a reasonable basis for the claim that its T Mobile Home Internet (T-HINT) is “available to many households in most U.S. cities and towns” and the implied claim that T-HINT is available broadly nationwide. The claims at issue were challenged by Verizon Communications, Inc.
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8/16/2022 - National Advertising Division Finds Certain Claims for Shark Vertex Supported; Recommends Other Vertex and Navigator Pet Pro Vacuum Claims Be Discontinued
New York, NY – August 16, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that certain “no hair wrap” claims made by SharkNinja Operating, LLC for its Shark Vertex corded vacuum and Vertex Lightweight cordless stick vacuum were supported. NAD recommended that Shark discontinue or modify other claims for its Vertex vacuums and Navigator Pet Pro vacuum.
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8/11/2022 - NAD Finds Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband Expansion Claim Supported; Recommends 5G Ultra Wideband “Most Reliable” Claim be Discontinued
New York, NY – August 11, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined Verizon provided a reasonable basis for the message in its “Verizon is Going Ultra” commercial that Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband has expanded its coverage. However, NAD recommended that Verizon discontinue the “most reliable” claim when referring to the 5G Ultra Wideband network and modify its advertising to clearly define "cities."
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8/10/2022 - Moose Toys Discontinues its Fail Fix Dolls Advertising to Comply with Children’s Advertising Review Unit Guidelines on Negative Social Stereotypes
McLean, VA – August 10, 2022 – The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) has determined that Moose Toys product advertising to children for its Fail Fix Total Makeover Dolls failed to comply with CARU’s Advertising Guidelines, specifically a provision stating that advertising should not portray or encourage negative social stereotyping, prejudice, or discrimination.
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8/04/2022 - National Advertising Division Recommends SmileDirectClub Discontinue Comparative “2X Whiter” and “2X Faster” Whitening Strips Claims
New York, NY – August 4, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that SmileDirectClub discontinue claims that its Fast-Dissolving Whitening Strips get teeth “2X whiter than Crest Classic White Whitestrips” and whiten teeth “2X faster than Crest Classic White Whitestrips.” These claims were challenged by Procter & Gamble Company, maker of a variety of Crest Whitestrips products.
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8/03/2022 - National Advertising Division Finds Certain WaterWipes Claims for Infant Cleansing Wipes Supported, Recommends Others be Discontinued
New York, NY – August 3, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that certain claims made by WaterWipes regarding the type and purity of ingredients used in its infant cleansing wipes were supported in context. However, NAD found that other claims that expressly or impliedly convey that competing baby wipes with more ingredients are harmful or can “cause or exacerbate diaper rash” were unsupported and recommended that they be discontinued.
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8/02/2022 - Children’s Advertising Review Unit Finds Firefly Games in Violation of COPPA and CARU’s Advertising and Privacy Guidelines; Company Agrees to Corrective Actions
McLean, VA – August 2, 2022 – The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) of BBB National Programs has found Firefly Games, owner and operator of the LOL Surprise! Room Makeover app, in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and CARU’s Self-Regulatory Guidelines for Advertising and for Children’s Online Privacy Protection. Firefly Games agreed to correct the violations.
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7/26/2022 - Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Recommends Root Wellness Discontinue Certain Health-Related Product Claims in Compliance Inquiry
McLean, VA – July 26, 2022 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) opened a compliance inquiry to review advertising communicated by Root Wellness LLC that had been the subject of an inquiry from 2021. In this compliance inquiry, DSSRC identified four claims challenged in the 2021 inquiry that are still publicly accessible, as well as 29 new health-related claims, among other issues.
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7/21/2022 - National Advertising Division Finds SmileDirectClub “60% Less Than Invisalign” Claim Supported with Modifications
New York, NY – July 21, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs determined that SmileDirectClub, LLC's claim that its treatment costs "60% less than Invisalign," without further qualification, was overly broad.
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7/14/2022 - National Advertising Division Finds “#1 CDP” Claims for Twilio Customer Data Platform Supported, With Qualification
New York, NY – July 14, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs determined that Twilio Inc. provided a reasonable basis for claims that its customer data platform is the “#1 CDP,” provided it makes clear that the basis for such claim is 2020 market share, as measured by the International Data Corporation (IDC). Accordingly, NAD recommended that the advertiser make certain modifications to the claim as it appears in Google search results, press releases, a Twilio billboard, and on Twilio’s website.
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7/14/2022 - Primark Modifies its Advertising to Comply with Children’s Advertising Review Unit Guidelines
McLean, VA – July 14, 2022 – The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) has determined that Primark US Corp.’s product advertising to children failed to comply with CARU’s Advertising Guidelines, specifically a new provision, which became effective in January of this year, stating that advertising should not portray or encourage negative social stereotyping, prejudice, or discrimination. CARU recommended that the advertiser modify its gender-restrictive advertising and Primark has agreed to the modifications.
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7/13/2022 - National Advertising Division Recommends Sanofi Discontinue “#1 Doctor Recommended” Claims for Zantac 360; Sanofi to Appeal
New York, NY – July 13, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs recommended that Sanofi Consumer Healthcare discontinue “#1 doctor recommended” claims for its Zantac 360 heartburn medicine. Sanofi will appeal NAD’s decision. The claims, which appeared on Sanofi’s social media pages, the websites of third-party retailers, and in a television commercial, were challenged by Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc., manufacturer of competing Pepcid products.
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7/07/2022 - National Advertising Division Recommends SharkNinja Modify or Discontinue Various Comparative Superiority Claims for Shark HyperAir Hair Dryer
New York, NY – July 7, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that SharkNinja modify or discontinue various challenged express and implied claims made in a 30-minute infomercial where its Shark HyperAir hair dryer is compared in various ways to the Dyson Supersonic and traditional hair dryers.
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7/06/2022 - Children’s Advertising Review Unit Finds Outright Games in Violation of COPPA and CARU’s Advertising and Privacy Guidelines; Company Agrees to Corrective Actions
McLean, VA – July 6, 2022 – The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) has found Outright Games, owner and operator of the Bratz Total Fashion Makeover app, in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and CARU’s Self-Regulatory Guidelines for Advertising and for Children’s Online Privacy Protection. Outright Games agreed to correct the violations.
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6/29/2022 - National Advertising Division Recommends Dakota Nutrition Discontinue Claims that Dietary Supplements Contain Elderberry
New York, NY – June 29, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that Dakota Nutrition, Inc. discontinue challenged express and implied claims that its dietary supplements contain the ingredient elderberry. This recommendation applies to marketing claims for three products: Extra Strength Elderberry 3-in-1 Immune Booster Capsules, Extra Strength Elderberry Gummies, and Immune Defense 7-in-1 Immune Booster Capsules.
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6/28/2022 - In Two Fast-Track SWIFT Cases, National Advertising Division Recommends Advertiser Claims be Discontinued in One, Modification of Disclosures in Other
New York, NY – June 28, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs closed two Fast-Track SWIFT cases in May 2022. In these cases, AT&T Services, Inc. challenged Charter Communications, Inc.’s (Spectrum) claim that AT&T’s internet service provides unreliable and glitchy internet connectivity to a consumer-noticeable degree for the activities depicted in the commercial, and T-Mobile Puerto Rico, LLC challenged disclosures made by Liberty Mobile Puerto Rico Inc. in connection with certain wireless network performance claims.
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6/23/2022 - National Advertising Division Finds Challenged DuckDuckGo Privacy Claims Supported; Recommends Clarifications for Use of App
New York, NY – June 23, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that DuckDuckGo provided a reasonable basis for certain claims related to its Privacy Browser mobile app and Privacy Essentials desktop extension. However, NAD recommended that to ensure consumers understand the scope of DuckDuckGo’s privacy protections, DuckDuckGo should modify the challenged advertising to make clear that this protection does not extend to the use of search engines and apps outside of the DuckDuckGo solution.
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Latest Decisions
National Advertising Division Recommends Naked & Thriving Discontinue Certain Claims; Advertiser Voluntarily Modifies Bare Beauty Babes Website
New York, NY – March 26, 2024 – BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division, as part of its routine monitoring program, recommended that Naked & Thriving discontinue certain claims in the Bare Beauty Babes blog and on social media.
National Advertising Division Refers Claims for Spectrum Home Internet Service to Regulatory Authorities for Further Review
New York, NY – March 21, 2024 – The National Advertising Division has referred advertising claims made by Charter Communications for its Spectrum home internet service to the FTC and other regulatory authorities for review after Charter declined to participate in the industry self-regulation process.
Following National Advertising Division Challenge, NourishMax Voluntarily Discontinues Certain Claims for its Diamond Infused Eye Cream
New York, NY – March 21, 2024 – Following a challenge brought by the National Advertising Division as part of its routine monitoring program, NourishMax discontinued certain advertising claims used to promote its NourishMax Diamond Infused Eye Cream.
Following National Advertising Division Challenge, Mobile Fox Voluntarily Discontinues Certain Claims for Solitaire Arena Game
New York, NY – March 19, 2024 – Following a challenge brought by the National Advertising Division, Mobile Fox Limited discontinued certain advertising claims promoting its Solitaire Arena mobile app game.