Citroën ad banned by watchdog for causing epileptic
seizures
18 January 2012
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has today (18 January)
banned an advert by French car maker Citroën for its DS4 model
after it triggered seizures in a number of viewers who suffer from
photo-sensitive epilepsy.
The advert featured scenes in rapid succession culminating in
304 alternating black and white 'YES' words appearing across a
screen.
Nina Best, a specialist in advertising law at Browne Jacobson
commented:
“Adverts must not include visual effects that are likely to
affect adversely members of the audience with photosenstive
epilepsy. Advertisers must remember that the rules are not only
about the words or images included in their advertisement, but also
the way they appear is subject to constraints. It is not only what
you say that can hurt but the way you say it.”