Is TikTok safe? Canada closes branch, US discusses ban
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2024 3:56 am
Procon-SP, the agency responsible for consumer protection and defense in the state of São Paulo, recently formalized a request for Meta – the company that owns Facebook and Instagram – to take stricter measures against advertisements for vapes and electronic cigarettes on social platforms.
The entity requests that the company demonstrate concrete actions to block advertising for these devices, the sale and advertising of which are prohibited in Brazil.
The charge seeks to ensure that Brazilian consumers are protected from advertising practices that promote harmful and illegal products.
Procon-SP demands more transparency and effectiveness in control measures
In an official statement, Procon-SP described its concerns about the chinese overseas asia database presence of vape ads on Meta's social media. According to the agency, the aim is for the company to clarify how it is acting to suspend advertising of products such as vapes and electronic cigarettes in Brazil.
Procon-SP requested that Meta not only implement more effective measures, but also present reports documenting the efforts made in partnership with the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) to prevent the dissemination of such content.
Requests include:
Suspension History : A report on profiles that have been suspended for running this type of ad.
Methods for searching and identifying advertisements : Explanation of the processes used to detect advertisements for illegal products.
Data on blocked ads : Quantitative information on ads removed from platforms.
Context: The ban on vaping in Brazil
In Brazil, the sale, import and advertising of vapes and other electronic cigarettes have been prohibited by Anvisa since 2009.
The decision was made based on studies that point to the health risks associated with the use of these devices, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Even with regulation, the presence of advertisements for these products on social media continues to be a reality, which led Procon-SP to intensify monitoring in the digital environment as well.
“As these products are highly harmful to health and their sale and use are prohibited throughout the country, Procon-SP monitors all possible physical and digital environments to prevent the sale of 'vapes', always seeking to dialogue and engage suppliers and technological platforms in combating the trade of illegal products”, the agency stated in a note.
Meta responds on measures against tobacco and electronic device advertisements
In response to Procon-SP's request, Meta reported that it has a restriction policy for advertisements that promote the sale or use of tobacco, nicotine and vaporization devices.
According to the company, advertisements for products such as vapes and electronic cigarettes are prohibited on its platforms, and Meta uses a combination of technology, manual reviews and community reports to monitor content.
The company also encourages users to report content that violates Meta's Community Guidelines and Advertising Standards.
Reports can be made directly through the app, which, according to Meta, helps maintain a safer environment that is aligned with local regulations.
The importance of supervision in the digital environment
Procon-SP's charge to Meta represents an advance in the digital inspection of products prohibited in Brazil, such as vapes.
With the growing popularity of social media as a marketing channel, regulatory bodies need to act to limit public exposure to illegal products.
This type of oversight is important not only to protect consumers, but also to hold large platforms accountable for maintaining a virtual environment that respects local laws.
For Procon-SP, in addition to transparency in its actions, Meta must intensify the removal of advertisements for these products and act preventively, without relying exclusively on complaints from users.
The partnership with Anvisa is also seen as fundamental to blocking harmful content, strengthening the fight against the sale and promotion of vaporization devices.
The entity requests that the company demonstrate concrete actions to block advertising for these devices, the sale and advertising of which are prohibited in Brazil.
The charge seeks to ensure that Brazilian consumers are protected from advertising practices that promote harmful and illegal products.
Procon-SP demands more transparency and effectiveness in control measures
In an official statement, Procon-SP described its concerns about the chinese overseas asia database presence of vape ads on Meta's social media. According to the agency, the aim is for the company to clarify how it is acting to suspend advertising of products such as vapes and electronic cigarettes in Brazil.
Procon-SP requested that Meta not only implement more effective measures, but also present reports documenting the efforts made in partnership with the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) to prevent the dissemination of such content.
Requests include:
Suspension History : A report on profiles that have been suspended for running this type of ad.
Methods for searching and identifying advertisements : Explanation of the processes used to detect advertisements for illegal products.
Data on blocked ads : Quantitative information on ads removed from platforms.
Context: The ban on vaping in Brazil
In Brazil, the sale, import and advertising of vapes and other electronic cigarettes have been prohibited by Anvisa since 2009.
The decision was made based on studies that point to the health risks associated with the use of these devices, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Even with regulation, the presence of advertisements for these products on social media continues to be a reality, which led Procon-SP to intensify monitoring in the digital environment as well.
“As these products are highly harmful to health and their sale and use are prohibited throughout the country, Procon-SP monitors all possible physical and digital environments to prevent the sale of 'vapes', always seeking to dialogue and engage suppliers and technological platforms in combating the trade of illegal products”, the agency stated in a note.
Meta responds on measures against tobacco and electronic device advertisements
In response to Procon-SP's request, Meta reported that it has a restriction policy for advertisements that promote the sale or use of tobacco, nicotine and vaporization devices.
According to the company, advertisements for products such as vapes and electronic cigarettes are prohibited on its platforms, and Meta uses a combination of technology, manual reviews and community reports to monitor content.
The company also encourages users to report content that violates Meta's Community Guidelines and Advertising Standards.
Reports can be made directly through the app, which, according to Meta, helps maintain a safer environment that is aligned with local regulations.
The importance of supervision in the digital environment
Procon-SP's charge to Meta represents an advance in the digital inspection of products prohibited in Brazil, such as vapes.
With the growing popularity of social media as a marketing channel, regulatory bodies need to act to limit public exposure to illegal products.
This type of oversight is important not only to protect consumers, but also to hold large platforms accountable for maintaining a virtual environment that respects local laws.
For Procon-SP, in addition to transparency in its actions, Meta must intensify the removal of advertisements for these products and act preventively, without relying exclusively on complaints from users.
The partnership with Anvisa is also seen as fundamental to blocking harmful content, strengthening the fight against the sale and promotion of vaporization devices.