ASCI launches mobile app to check deceptive ads

Advertising Standard Council of India (ASCI) has today launched India’s first consumer complaint mobile application – ASCIonline. The app is available on Android and iOS.

The app can be downloaded from Playstore and iTunes free of charge, and can be used to lodge and track status of complaints. Users will receive automatic push notifications when statuses of their complaints change.

ASCI Chairman Mr. Narendra Ambwani said, “Today mobiles devices are more widely used compared to desktops. With growing use of smart phones consumers want apps to put power of doing transactions in their pocket.”

ASCI currently addresses around 300 complaints a month. With the power to lodge a complaint available at one’s fingertip, the number of complaints is expected to go up significantly.

“This has been in the works for 6 months or more. Now if one walks across the street and comes across a hoarding they find misleading, they can click a picture and lodge a complaint. Its easy and convenient”, ‎Secretary General, ASCI says.

One can’t help but laud the timing of the app launch when the retail industry is torn with controversies about misleading advertisements.

The Advertising Standards Council of India is a self-regulatory organization for the advertising industry.

(Image credit: Indiatimes)