Digital Platforms Dominate Violative Ad Landscape in FY26, Meta Accounts for Majority

Digital Media Dominates Violative Ads in FY26, Meta Contributes Four-Fifths

The Advertising Standards Council of India (Asci) released a report on Thursday stating that the new-age digital media is home to over 97 per cent of violative ads in FY26. According to the report, online giant Meta alone contributed nearly four-fifths of such problematic campaigns.

The report revealed that a total of 9,611 ads were found to be in violation, with 97.36 per cent carried on digital platforms, 2.04 per cent on TV, and 0.26 per cent on print media. Among the ads found to be violative on the digital platforms, 79.84 per cent were carried on Meta, which runs popular platforms like Facebook and Instagram. In contrast, Google, which runs YouTube, had just 3.59 per cent of the violative ads.

Websites had a share of over 13 per cent in digital ads found to be in violation of Asci's codes. The 2025-26 financial year witnessed a 21 per cent jump in the number of ads reviewed by Asci to 11,581, with campaigns from offshore betting and realty sectors being the most violative.

Read also: Treasury Yields Experience Largest Increase in Two Weeks Following Release of Labor Market Data

Despite regulatory interventions, offshore betting was the most violative sector, followed by realty and personal care. The SRO said 93 per cent of the ads reviewed came from its own monitoring and added that 98 per cent had to be modified.

A bulk 75 per cent of the overall ads promoted harmful products and 27 per cent lacked honest representation to mislead consumers. The report highlighted a growing tendency toward exaggerated claims, manufactured scientific credibility, influencer-led amplification, and the normalisation of non-compliance as a post-publication correction exercise.

Asci's chairman, Sudhanshu Vats, stated that there is an "urgent need" for stronger accountability, better substantiation standards, responsible influencer practices, and preventive approaches to governance in digital advertising.

Read also: US-Iran Tensions Spark Uptick in Oil Prices Amid Global Market Decline