Q3 2023: a visual guide to ASA rulings

Have a look at our latest advertising infographics summarising key aspects of ASA decisions for the quarter (17 May 2023 to 16 August 2023). 

This quarter saw a ≈30% increase in the number of rulings published compared to the last quarter (85 rulings this quarter and 64 rulings in the last). There have been significantly more complaints this quarter (517 complaints, compared with 145 in the last quarter), largely attributable to two rulings receiving 295 complaints and 98 complaints respectively. 

A similar proportion of rulings were upheld in full (86% of rulings this quarter compared with 81% of rulings last quarter), though fewer rulings were partially upheld (5% this quarter, compared with 13% in the last quarter). There has been a slight increase in rulings not upheld this quarter (9% compared with 6% last quarter). The average number of days between publication of the adverts and the date of the decision is comparable with the last quarter (189 days, compared to 195 days in the last quarter). 

Most of the adverts complained of appeared on the internet or social media, but there has been an increase in complaints about television ads (19, compared with 3 last quarter). The main issue relates to misleading adverts, and the most common topics are "claims, endorsements and testimonials" and "utilities, energy and environment". 

Headlines 

• No. of rulings: 85

• No. of complaints (leading to a ruling*): 517

• Average no. of complaints per ruling: 6.1

• Average no. days between publication of ad and ruling: 189

Most complained about:

• Wuka Ltd t/a WUKA (19 July 2023): 295 complaints

• BBC Studios Productions Ltd t/a BBC Studios (26 July 2023): 98 complaints.

We discuss the decisions on both of these cases in more detail here.

Outcome of rulings

Type of complainant

Topic

Issue

Media type 

*An additional 170 complaints were informally resolved but, as details are not published, these are not included in any of our figures