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The Conscious Advertising Network (CAN) responds to the death of Professor Jason Arday by urging advertisers to recognize their role in funding the information ecosystem. CAN argues that advertising spend can inadvertently subsidize environments where racism and harassment thrive, and calls for a shift toward supporting quality journalism, diverse publishers, and stricter platform policies against hate speech.

The Conscious Advertising Network (CAN) argues that self-regulation of digital advertising and platforms has failed, leading to the monetisation of harmful content and a degradation of information integrity. To address this, CAN proposes four primary policy shifts: enshrining information integrity in law (aligned with UN principles), requiring end-to-end and object-level transparency across the advertising supply chain, establishing enforceable financial and operational accountability for platforms that monetise harmful content, and reforming business models to reduce incentives for monetising harm while enforcing data minimisation.

The Conscious Advertising Network's Policy Roadmap 2026 calls for legislative action to address the 'monetisation of attention' by digital platforms and AI companies. It argues that self-regulation has failed, leading to the amplification of harmful content, climate disinformation, and risks to children. The roadmap proposes four pillars: enshrining information integrity in law, driving end-to-end transparency in the ad supply chain, establishing financial accountability for the monetisation of harm, and aligning business models with societal interests.

The document analyzes how the 'attention economy' and the rapid integration of AI in advertising contribute to a global information crisis by funding disinformation and eroding trust. It highlights a 'governance gap' where regulatory frameworks fail to keep pace with AI adoption, leading to systemic opacity and the financial decline of independent media. The brief provides specific recommendations for advertisers to demand object-level transparency and for policymakers to establish enforceable labeling and auditing standards for AI-generated content.

The document argues that advertising effectiveness and trust depend on respecting users through a clear 'value exchange' regarding privacy and content. It outlines three essential action areas: adopting data transparency and minimisation practices (referencing GDPR and ICO standards), improving user experience by prioritising quality of reach over quantitative metrics and avoiding intrusive ad formats, and managing emerging technologies like AI through ethical evaluations and bias monitoring.

The document outlines a strategy for the advertising industry to avoid inadvertently incentivising harmful content. It proposes a four-step action plan: setting internal standards and risk protocols, incentivising quality journalism, optimising media mixes to avoid platforms that commercialise inaccuracies, and enforcing supply chain accountability. The guide emphasizes that information integrity is essential for human rights and a sustainable future, noting that ads appearing alongside hate speech can lead to a 35% drop in click-through rates and a decrease in brand affinity.

The guide outlines six essential steps for advertising agencies and brands to integrate sustainability into their business models: organization, briefing, production, content, information integrity, and climate literacy. It emphasizes the need to combat climate disinformation, reduce Scope 3 emissions, and avoid greenwashing to meet consumer demand for responsible brand behavior.

The guide outlines the financial and systemic impact of ad fraud, noting that Forbes reported $84 billion lost to fraud in 2023. It recommends a four-step action plan: embedding anti-fraud initiatives, using transparent anti-fraud vendors, vetting media partners through technical standards and audits, and communicating progress to trade bodies.

The guide outlines the business case for inclusive advertising, citing increased sales and brand equity, and provides a detailed operational framework for implementing DEI across organisational structure, agency briefing, creative production, media placement, and talent management.

The Conscious Advertising Network (CAN) responds to UK riots fueled by online misinformation and hate speech, urging advertisers to break the economic link between their spending and harmful content. CAN advocates for a review of the Online Safety Act and encourages members to audit their site lists, review misinformation policies, and support staff from global majority backgrounds.

The Children's Wellbeing Guide outlines a framework for advertisers to mitigate risks to children—categorised as content, contact, conduct, and contract—through six essential steps. These steps include embedding safety-by-design, complying with global legal frameworks like the GDPR and the UK's Online Safety Act, and avoiding exploitative practices such as microtargeting and behavioural advertising for those under 18. The guide emphasizes that child safety should be a brand priority and recommends defining a child as anyone under 18, in alignment with the UNCRC.

The Conscious Advertising Network (CAN) attended the 2024 Cannes Lions festival to increase its profile and network with industry leaders. Key activities included co-hosting a panel with VCCP on the risks of AI and misinformation, participating in dialogues on greenwashing and ad fraud, and forming partnerships with organizations such as The Marketing Society and Goals House. The report highlights a tension between the industry's focus on AI and the relative lack of attention given to sustainability, while noting CAN's role as leading advisors on the United Nations Global Principles on Information Integrity.

The Conscious Advertising Network argues that digital advertising must be viewable by humans and served in appropriate environments to prevent the funding of organised crime, hate speech, and disinformation. It advocates for the adoption of certified media buys and the implementation of four fundamental risk-minimisation steps within agency briefs to tackle fraud.

The Conscious Advertising Network's manifesto outlines how advertisers can mitigate the commercial and reputational risks of funding disinformation. It advocates for auditing suppliers and publishers to ensure advertising spend supports credible narratives and quality journalism rather than deceptive content used to falsely distort the market.

A coalition of brands, agencies, and civil society organisations, coordinated by the Conscious Advertising Network, has issued a letter of solidarity demanding that major social media platforms take urgent action against online racism. The letter specifically references the abuse directed at England's players following a major tournament and argues that the companies funding these platforms share a responsibility to ensure user safety. The signatories demand updated hate speech policies, better enforcement, and the reporting of racist abuse as a crime by August 13, 2021.

The document outlines ten guiding questions for advertisers divided into immediate actions and long-term strategies. These focus on regulatory compliance regarding children's data and exposure, the use of age verification, brand safety discussions with agencies, the vetting of influencers, and the promotion of diverse perspectives in content.

The report finds that while 85% of the UK public recognizes human impact on climate change, significant gaps in understanding and a high prevalence of disinformation persist. 82% of respondents believe in at least one piece of climate disinformation, with common myths centering on the unaffordability of net zero and the inability of the electricity grid to support electric vehicles. Trust in corporate climate commitments is very low, with 91% of respondents not fully trusting brands to accurately portray their commitments. Social media is identified as the primary source of disinformation by 40% of the public.