Regulations for Use of Children’s Images in Advertising
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the regulation of children’s images in advertisements, raised by Mr Alex Yam Ziming regarding inappropriate imagery and the use of artificial intelligence. Minister for Communications and Information Mrs Josephine Teo stated that the Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore (ASAS) governs such content via the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice, which requires special care for children to prevent mental, moral, or physical harm. She explained that advertisements are not subject to pre-approval but are managed through a complaints-based system where ASAS can mandate amendments or withdrawals of non-compliant materials. ASAS collaborates with agencies like the Infocomm Media Development Authority to periodically review these standards to ensure they remain relevant to the evolving media landscape. A review of the current advertising code is presently underway in consultation with various government bodies and industry stakeholders to ensure consistent enforcement across all platforms.
Transcript
46 Mr Alex Yam Ziming asked the Minister for Communications and Information with regard to a recent advertisement banner that utilised inappropriate child imagery (a) what are the regulations relating to the use of children's images in advertising, including situations where images may be artificially generated; (b) whether the Ministry is aware if the Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore collaborates with various organisations to ensure consistent enforcement of advertising regulations across all platforms; and (c) whether the Ministry will review the advertising approval processes to prevent future occurrences.
Mrs Josephine Teo: Commercial advertising in Singapore is regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore (ASAS) through the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice (SCAP). SCAP applies to all advertisements for any goods and services appearing in any form or any media. It stipulates that all advertisements should be legal, decent, honest and truthful.
SCAP also stipulates that "special care should be taken in marketing communication directed towards or depicting children and young people". This includes ensuring that the content does not contain any statement or visual presentation that might have the effect of harming children mentally, morally or physically.
Advertisements are not required to be approved by ASAS before they are published. ASAS adopts a complaints-based approach in reviewing potential advertising breaches when reported to them. ASAS promotes ethical advertising through the SCAP and can inform advertisers to amend or withdraw advertisements that are deemed to have breached the SCAP. ASAS also periodically reviews the SCAP to ensure it continues to address key issues in the evolving advertising landscape. These reviews are made in consultation with relevant Government agencies, such as the Infocomm Media Development Authority, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Health Sciences Authority, Singapore Food Agency, Gambling Regulatory Authority as well as the advertising industry. ASAS is conducting such a review currently.