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5 Tips: How to Successfully Use Product Reviews in Advertising
Jun 23, 2021, 09:00 AM by Kat Dunnigan, Senior Attorney, National Advertising DivisionProduct reviews should be what they appear to be—authentic reviews that reflect the range of reactions and actual opinions of consumers. These best practices explain how to apply truth-in-advertising principles to the responsible use of reviews and testimonials.Full story -
Pivotal Moments for Ad Law in the 70s: Pfizer Factors and Comparative Advertising
Jun 16, 2021, 09:18 AM by Katherine Armstrong, Deputy Director, National Advertising DivisionIn NAD’s first decade (the 1970s), the industry experienced two pivotal legal developments that continue to impact advertising law and NAD cases today. Many advertisers are familiar with “the Pfizer factors,” but most would probably say they do not know much about the facts of the case that created them. And when it comes to comparative advertising, can you identify the FTC document that sent a strong message about the value of truthful comparative advertising?Full story -
Interoperability: The Foundation for Achieving Compliance with Global Privacy Laws
Jun 15, 2021, 10:51 AM by Cobun Zweifel-Keegan, Deputy Director, Privacy InitiativesDespite what you may hear about global privacy laws, exceeding minimum standards with a unified privacy program is feasible for most businesses. While there is not one common global data privacy law, there are standard privacy practices common across jurisdictions. This idea can be summed up in one word: interoperability. Standard data privacy practices, when properly documented and certified, are recognized as a baseline around the world.Full story -
Political Advertising: Notice and Enhanced Notice
Jun 10, 2021, 09:00 AM by Digital Advertising Accountability ProgramThis 2020 election season, voters will consider candidates for offices high and low: from governors and state attorneys general all the way to congressmen, senators, and the President of the United States. Campaigns have increasingly turned to digital advertising to reach voters with their messages and drive them to the polls.Full story -
Vehicle Warranty 101
Jun 9, 2021, 09:00 AM by Abby Adams, Senior Counsel, Dispute Resolution Programs, BBB AUTO LINEThe term “warranty” is common and can be applied to many different things – the purchase of a house, a new piece of technology, or a vehicle. Though a familiar term, what a warranty is and does is not always known beyond the general “it protects my purchase.” A warranty is a contract between the “purchaser” of a product, often called the “consumer,” and the “seller” of that product, usually a business.Full story -
Breaking Down Privacy Certification Options – Why, What, Who
Jun 3, 2021, 08:20 AM by Cobun Zweifel-Keegan, Deputy Director, Privacy Initiatives, BBB National ProgramsIn today’s data-driven economy, good privacy practices are inextricable from good business. Everyone is taking a closer look at how personal information is collected and used these days. Consumers and employees are more informed about how to protect the privacy of their data. Regulators are raising the temperature, armed with updated rules. And businesses are requiring much more than general assurances that their contracting parties will handle data with care. Know the why, the what, and the who of privacy certifications.Full story -
The AdChoices Icon and the Political Ads Icon: This campaign season, look out for the blue and purple triangles
Jun 1, 2021, 09:00 AM by Digital Advertising Accountability ProgramNow that it’s the 2020 campaign season, your digital advertising experience has probably changed to include ads extolling or condemning certain candidates for office. This phenomenon is known as express advocacy political advertising.Full story -
Issue Ads vs Express Advocacy: Know your compliance obligations.
Jun 1, 2021, 09:00 AM by Digital Advertising Accountability ProgramIn today’s digital world, there are numerous ways that voters might encounter political content online. They might see their favorite candidate displayed in a banner on their favorite website. Alternatively, they may see their top social issue captured in a video message in their newsfeed. And of course, they might encounter organic political content shared by friends, family, and co-workers across their networks.Full story -
Best Practices in Global Data Privacy
May 26, 2021, 09:00 AM by BBB National Programs Global Privacy DivisionPrivacy has become a very public matter. The issue of properly managing personal data is not only big in the U.S.; it is increasingly important around the world. Even though global privacy regulations are actively shifting, maintaining a robust privacy program with independent indicators will go a long way toward minimizing the scrutiny of consumers and government agencies.Full story -
Understanding Dark Patterns: How To Stay Out Of The Gray Areas
May 19, 2021, 15:10 PM by Eric D. Reicin, President & CEO, BBB National ProgramsWhere is the line between ethical, persuasive design and dark patterns? Businesses should engage in conversations with IT, compliance, risk, and legal teams to review their privacy policy, and include in the discussion the customer/user experience designers and coders responsible for the company’s user interface, as well as the marketers and advertisers responsible for sign-ups, checkout baskets, pricing, and promotions. Any or all these teams can play a role in creating or avoiding “digital deception.”Full story -
Flexible, Adaptable, Yet Firm in its Foundation: 50 Years of Advertising Industry Self-Regulation
May 19, 2021, 09:00 AM by Laura Brett, Vice President, National Advertising DivisionThis week we celebrate the 50th anniversary of independent self-regulation in advertising. On May 18, 1971, the National Advertising Review Board (NARB) and its investigative arm, the National Advertising Division (NAD) were announced.Full story -
The Critical Components for Self-Regulation in Direct Selling
May 11, 2021, 09:00 AM by Peter Marinello, Vice President, Direct Selling Self-Regulatory CouncilDirect selling – when done correctly – can benefit distributors and consumers. Unfortunately, it only takes a few bad actors to compromise the integrity of an entire industry. The direct selling industry faces difficult and important challenges in enhancing consumer and regulatory confidence in the marketing of its products and services. Successful and effective self-regulation has often been described as a marathon and not a sprint and, as such, requires ongoing commitment and participation from the industry.Full story -
Truth-in-Advertising: Who Makes the Rules?
Apr 29, 2021, 09:00 AM by La Toya Sutton, Attorney, National Advertising DivisionIt is a common misunderstanding that the National Advertising Division (NAD) creates or establishes standards for the U.S. advertising industry. Instead, substantiation standards are set by laws, guidance documents, or industry organizations. NAD looks to those different sources for guidance when reviewing advertising claims.Full story -
Turning Lemons into Lemon-Aid – How to Navigate a Vehicle Warranty Claim During the Pandemic
Apr 27, 2021, 09:00 AM by Abby Adams, Senior Counsel, Dispute Resolution ProgramsThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of our lives, from the ability to socialize to the ability to work. Keeping up with routine vehicle maintenance, for many who have been moving around less since the pandemic began, has become less routine. So, what happens when you discover an issue with your vehicle? To make sure your vehicle gets fixed, follow these guidelines and, if your vehicle cannot be fixed, we at BBB AUTO LINE have some guidelines for that, too.Full story -
Call to Action: Improve Green Marketing and Avoid Greenwashing
Apr 22, 2021, 09:00 AM by Eric Unis, Attorney, National Advertising DivisionGreen marketing can be a strong marketing tool for companies to differentiate their sustainable approach to business and help consumers choose more sustainable products. But with the variety and volume of green marketing today, does it?Full story -
Businesses Should Be Held Accountable For Their ESG Claims
Apr 22, 2021, 08:00 AM by Eric D. Reicin, President & CEO, BBB National ProgramsToday, businesses’ strategies and tactics to prove they are good corporate citizens go beyond the environment to include social and governance practices, otherwise known as ESG. Though consumers rely on businesses for information about their current corporate environmental efforts and their approaches to social and governance issues, ESG messaging is not something that consumers can easily confirm for themselves. A widespread commitment to accountability in ESG messaging to consumers would be an outstanding complement to the work that is already being done in communicating ESG policies to investors.Full story -
Unpacking Misleading Advertising Claims in the Children’s Space
Apr 20, 2021, 09:00 AM by Rashida Gordon, Analyst, Children’s Advertising Review UnitAdvertisements may seem simple on the surface, but certain aspects of the ad business, including advertising law, are complex. The role of monitoring ads directed to children is especially complex. It seems straightforward: advertisers are not allowed to lie in their advertisements, but an advertiser is also responsible for all reasonable interpretations of the claims it makes and not just the messages it intended to convey. This blog outlines how to make sure your advertising passes the truthfulness test.Full story -
A Beginner's Guide to Reading Privacy Policies
Apr 15, 2021, 09:00 AM by Cameryn Gonnella, Compliance Manager, Children’s Advertising Review UnitPrivacy policies are complicated and can be frustrating to read, especially when you are trying to learn about your child's data privacy online. The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) reviews child-directed online environments to ensure that children’s data is collected and handled responsibly. As a parent, follow these steps to take a proactive role in your child’s data privacy, using privacy policies as your guide to better understand an online service’s data collection practices.Full story -
Q&A: What is an SRO? A Beginner’s Guide to International Advertising Self-Regulation
Apr 13, 2021, 09:00 AM by Annie Ugurlayan, Assistant Director, National Advertising DivisionAdvertising is a cutting-edge industry, so it is no surprise that the ad business has been at the forefront of a global trend building for almost 60 years – independent industry self-regulation. In the U.S., the National Advertising Division is the industry’s widely recognized “truth-in-advertising” body, an independent third party that enables competitors to resolve disputes outside the courtroom. It is the self-regulatory organization (SRO) of the U.S. In this Q&A with Mary Engle, Executive Vice President, Policy, here at BBB National Programs, we dig into what industry self-regulation looks like in other parts of the world.Full story -
Substantiating Advertising Claims in Three Steps: A How-To Checklist for Advertisers
Apr 8, 2021, 09:00 AM by Katherine Armstrong, Deputy Director, and Laura Brett, Vice President, National Advertising DivisionSubstantiating advertising claims is important, both to comply with the law and to avoid regulatory scrutiny or a potential challenge from a competitor in court or in a proceeding before the National Advertising Division (NAD).Full story
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