Just In: ARCON To Begin Sanction Of Influencers, Brands, Skitmakers, Without Pre-Exposure Approvals From March 1st
The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON, has said it will begin the sanction of Influencers, Brands, and Skitmakers, without Pre-Exposure Approvals from the body with effect from March 1st.
The Director-General ARCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, said that the sanction of influencers putting out advertisements of any kind that will be used on social media as well as other digital platforms without pre-exposure approvals from the regulatory body became necessary following the non-compliance of the law.
He said this at ARCON’s Interactive Stakeholders Session with Digital Agencies, Bloggers, and Content Creators, on Tuesday, February 28, at L’eola Hotel, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos.
Dr. Fadolapo noted that it has received several complaints on the advertisements, advertising, and marketing communications activities of skit makers, comedians, influencers, content creators/producers, bloggers, vloggers, etc on digital/online media platforms.
He noted that most of the advertisements exposed by this group are not only unethical with unverified claims and misinformation, but also in violation of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice.
According to him, the vetting window by the Advertising Standard Panel, ASP, is open for 8 hours, 16 hours, and 10 days.
He said, “By this gathering, brand owners, digital agencies, secondary digital media space owners (i.e. bloggers, vloggers, influencers, comedians, skit makers, etc), and other advertising stakeholders in the digital/online media space are to obtain pre-exposure approval of all advertisements, advertising, and marketing communications in accordance with the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and the ARCON Act No. 23 of 2022. With effect from March 1st, it will be a different ballgame with defaulters as they will be fined N500,000 for non-compliance.
“Let me reiterate again that ARCON is not regulating social media. We are regulating advertising, advertisement, and marketing communications across the platforms.”
He also noted that the regulatory body in collaboration with the security operatives will sanction any skit maker using security officers’ uniforms without approval from the Nigerian Police or the Military.
However, Dr. Fadolapo said obituaries and vacancies are exempted from vetting before publishing.