NEW DELHI: The Grievance Against Misleading Advertisements (GAMA) portal set up by the ministry of consumer affairs in 2015 received 12,187 complaints against misleading advertisements in the past three years, i.e. 2017-2020, Union minister Prakash Javadekar has said.

He shared the data while responding to a query on misleading ads in the Lok Sabha. Of the total complaints received, 8,963 were resolved, including by way of withdrawal or modification of the advertisements. 

The question put to the information and broadcasting minister enquired whether the government is aware of misleading advertisements on various TV channels and details on the concrete measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Centre to check the dissemination of misinformation or false claims via ads on TV channels and other media.

Javadekar noted that all advertisements telecast on TV channels are regulated in accordance with the Advertising Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994. “The Advertising Code also provides that no advertisement which violates the code of self-regulation in advertising as adopted by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), Mumbai for public exhibition in India shall be carried in the cable service.”

He added that the ministry of information and broadcasting issues advisories from time to time to broadcasters for ensuring compliance to the Advertising Codes. 

“Under the provisions of Consumer Protection Act, 2019, a central consumer protection authority (CCPA) has been established w.e.f. 24.07.2020 which inter-alia looks into the complaints of misleading advertisements,” he told the house.