The Advertisement Board’s Expanded Power: Blocking Access
The sanctions that the Advertisement Board has traditionally applied are the levying of administrative fines, correction decisions and precautionary or temporary suspension decisions against advertisements which violate the legal rules for advertisements broadcasted in any media including those found on the internet. In addition to these, the Advertisement Board has now been authorized to block access to online broadcasts or contents which are found to violate advertising… »
Regulations on Consumer Reviews and Complaints
Specific rules for consumer reviews and publishing consumer complaints were introduced into Turkish law by amendments to the Advertising Regulation effective as of March 2022. The amendments establish fundamental principles regarding consumer reviews. Some of them are as follows: Consumer reviews may be published by only those who have purchased the relevant product or service. Consumers should be informed of the principles for publishing consumer reviews either directly on… »
Advertisements Containing Price Information and Discount Sales Advertisements
The Advertising Regulation was amended in a way to include new measures and rules to regulate advertisements containing misleading price information and to protect consumers against unfair commercial practices. The amendments entered into force in March 2022. In addition, the Advertisement Board prepared the Guideline on Advertisements Containing Price Information, Discount Sales Advertisements and Commercial Practices” (“Guideline”) that took effect in April 2022. Together… »
Advertisements Containing Environmental Claims
Until recently, there was no regulation specifically applicable for advertisements containing environmental claims. In the absence of specific regulation, the Advertisement Board has previously conducted its evaluations of such advertisements pursuant to the provisions included in the Advertising Regulation stating that advertisements must not abuse consumers’ environmental sensitivity or lack of knowledge in this field. For example, the Board determined in a decision… »
Conformity of Comparative Advertisements to the Advertising Law
Direct comparative advertising is considered unlawful under the Advertising Regulation as it is prohibited thereunder to mention the product name, trademark, logo, trade name, business name or other distinctive features of competitors in advertisements. Only indirect comparative advertisement not containing the trademark and distinctive features of competitors is allowed. The Advertisement Board rendered a decision in August 2022, which was particularly relevant to the scope… »
Social Responsibility Awareness and Social Values in Advertisements
The Advertisement Board rendered a guiding decision in September 2022 with respect to the advertisements published by an international fashion company operating in Turkey in which some food products like bread and doughnuts covered with colourful toppings were placed together with some attractive shoes and sandals also offered for sale. The Board evaluated that the advertisements violated the principle requiring that advertisements must follow the principles of fair… »