Sunday 16 February 2025
Tomorrow the Consumer Protection Authority will launch the "Misleading Advertisements" campaign under the slogan "Be aware...Things May Not Be as They Seem"! aiming to raise awareness about misleading advertisements, their forms, and their impact. It also seeks to enhance consumers' skills in verifying advertisements before making purchasing decisions, educate providers on the difference between deception and attractive advertising techniques, and inform all parties involved in the consumer process about promotional standards in digital platforms.
This campaign targets consumers from all segments of society, including (men, women, children, people with disabilities, and students from schools and universities), in addition to service providers and advertisers.
The campaign will cover several key areas: The first area focuses on defining misleading advertisements, explaining their concept, types, and techniques used to deceive consumers, as well as their impact on both consumers and providers. It also provides an overview of local and international regulations that set legal guidelines governing consumer-provider relationships concerning misleading advertisements.
The second area highlights skills for verifying advertisements before making purchasing decisions, protecting consumers from falling into deceptive marketing traps.
The third area discusses the distinction between deception and the elements of attraction and excitement in advertising, guided by key factors such as accuracy in presenting facts, differentiating between exaggeration and reality, analyzing the language used in advertisements, and other relevant aspects.
The fourth area focuses on promotional standards in digital platforms, which have become a fundamental part of modern marketing strategies and a key channel for businesses to reach a broad and diverse audience. This section also highlights the roles of different stakeholders in digital advertising.
This campaign stems from the recognition that misleading advertisements—whether online or in traditional media—pose a significant challenge for consumers and businesses. Such advertisements exploit trust, presenting false or incomplete information to achieve quick gains at the expense of credibility and integrity. Therefore, it is crucial for consumers to be aware of these deceptive practices and possess the necessary skills to verify information before making purchasing decisions. Additionally, the campaign seeks to instill ethical and transparent advertising practices among businesses to help them build long-term relationships with their customers and maintain their reputations.