Due to its sheer growth and prominence as a modern marketing medium, online is now, quite reasonably, attracting the eyes of the regulator. In 2007 the IAB acted by initiating the Regulatory Affairs Council with delegates from the UK’s leading media owners and consultants specialising in online regulations.

Priorities for the Council in online advertising include: advertising to children; food high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS); alcohol advertising; video advertising; privacy issues. Other projects include a review of the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) code, looking at unregulated online spaces such as company websites and educating the influencers about the way online works.

This is obviously a huge area and in 2008 regulations will be moving up the IAB agenda by working with other regulatory bodies and the IAB Regulatory Affairs Council will be playing a vital role. The IAB have hired Nick Stringer as their new Head of Regulatory Affairs who begins in early April, and one his key roles will be to chair this council and facilitate its development moving forward.

To find out more or to participate please contact Jack Wallington