'We respect local laws': Meta clarifies stance on alcohol and gambling ads in India
The referenced communication lacked that precision that is reflected in our formal policies and documents,' said Meta in a statement
After much confusion over the last two days, Meta issued a statement clarifying its stance on allowing alcohol and gambling ads on its various platforms in regards to India. Given the strict laws about advertising content in the country, industry stakeholders and legal experts were left scrambling to figure out the permutations.
This came after Meta announced on Tuesday via email that it will be allowing advertisements from alcohol and real money gambling verticals in India, Asia Pacific (APAC), and Latin America (LATAM). Meta has since clarified that this will not be happening in India at present.
A Meta Spokesperson said, “When we set business policies for our service, we respect local laws, and therefore certain business messaging or other types of communication are not going to be allowed in certain countries, including India. The referenced communication lacked that precision that is reflected in our formal policies and documents.”
The original news sparked a furore across the country, not least because it followed the Indian government implementing a ban on liquor manufacturers from using surrogate advertisements and sponsoring events. As per Reuters and according to new draft regulations, liquor companies could face fines of up to ₹50 lakh if they persist in promoting their main products through surrogate ads in India.
