Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)The advertising standards authority is the UK’s independent regulator of advertising across the media. They apply the advertising codes, that are written by the committees of advertising practice. Their work includes acting on complaints and constantly checking the media to take action against misleading, harmful or offensive advertisements.
Their job is basically to ensure all the advertising media is being truthful, honest and legal, this is to the benefit of consumers, business and society.
To ensure they are doing their job they achieve getting better at regulating ads in all media, and in particular by:
- Making a success of regulating online ads
- Being an effective part of the response to societal issues shown to be affected by advertising
- Placing more emphasis on prevention rather than cure
- Being more efficient and in tune with consumers, business and society.
Office of Communications (Ofcom)
The Office of Communications is the government approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, telecommunications and postal industries of the UK.
Ofcom has a wide range of power across the television, radio, telecoms and postal sectors. It's duty is to represent the interests of citizens and consumers by promoting competition and protecting the public from harmful or offensive material. Some of the main areas Ofcom presides over are licensing, research, codes and policies, complaints, competition and protecting the radio spectrum from abuse.