Newspaper Sex Ads

We have been lobbying advertising regulator, the ASA, for years to stop ads for the porn and sex trade in newspapers. The Equality and Human Rights Commission agrees.

We have also met with Transport for London, asking why it allows the Metro and Evening Standard (ES) to be distributed all over its transport network when they have ads for ‘sex chat’ and ‘chat or date’ (prostitution) in them.

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Say ‘No’ to Newspaper Sex Ads!

• Tweet the ASA to stop newspaper sex ads HERE
• Vote on whether Porn Ads be in Newspapers? VOTE HERE

Why are These in a Newspaper?

 

 

 

 

Many local and national newspapers still carry ads (often far more graphic than the ones featured here) for the porn and sex trade. This is despite:

• • Breach of Equality Law and clear issue of Child Protection

• • Calls by The Police and the Press Trade Body to get them to drop such ads because of their link with trafficking

• • Breach of numerous ASA Codes

• • Breach of Transport for London Advertising and Newspaper codes 

• • Breach of ASA Comittment to Child Protection

• • Many Children read newspapers (warning sexual images)

• • Breach ethos of child protection under the Serious Crime Act
  • Clear issue of Child Protection (ev​en providing exactly the kind of material used to ‘groom’ children with, in the most mainstream manner imaginable)

What We’ve Done

We have been lobbying the ASA since 2016 to end porn and sex ads in newspapers as anti-equalities (normalising and promoting demand for highly abusive industries) and anti-child protection (50% of kids read papers).

The ASA has consistently refused to end such advertising. It does not even have codes on how porn and prostitution should be advertised in print or on line – even though it has extensive regulations on how the porn and sex trade may, or often may not, be advertised on TV and radio.

This is also totally out of keeping with the ASA’s commitment to

• End Sexualised Images of Children un​der 18 and 

• End ‘Gender Stereotyping’ in advertising

The ASA has  conceded that it is a Public Body, legally required to seek to eliminate harassment, discrimination and victimisation of women in all its policies and decisions. This is the very definition of the porn and sex trade. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is now matching our call for an end to these ads in all unrestricted spaces.

We have also met with Transport for London chiefs, with more meetings in the pipeline. This is what we told them.

Read All About It

• Our concerns and ASA responses​​
• Recommendations to the ASA​​
• Recommendations to Equality and Human Right Commission
• Report to TfL