Competition Bureau reverses previous draft guidelines on Internet advertising
The Competition Bureau has released new final guidelines on dealing with Internet advertising as it relates to misleading claims. The new rules specifically exclude Internet service providers (ISPs) from being the primary focus of investigations by the bureau, a reversal from the draft guidelines released in May 2001. At that time, bureau officials proposed that ISPs be treated like printed publishers, with the responsibility to verify foreign-source advertising hosted on their systems (CNM, June 14/01). Reaction was swift from parties such as the Canadian Association of Internet Providers (CAIP), the Internet Advertising Bureau of Canada, Sympatico-Lycos and others (CNM, Sept. 6/01). Over a year-and-a-half later, CAIP is applauding the reversal. Canadian NEW MEDIA will have full details in its next issue.