Citroen advert banned from TV after triggering epilepsy symptoms in viewers
Ten viewers complained flashing images triggered photo-sensitive epilepsy
One viewer reported to have suffered a seizure
Changes made to prevent similar adverts from being passed in future
By Tony Bassett
Last updated at 10:34 AM on 18th January 2012
A TV commercial for a Citroen car has been banned after it triggered seizures in one viewer who suffers from photo-sensitive epilepsy.
Advertising watchdogs said it breached the rule that adverts must not include visual effects or techniques likely to affect viewers with the medical condition.
The adverts for the Citroen DS4 which appeared on Sky, Watch, ITV, Quest and UK Gold, showed rapidly-changing scenes and the word 'Yes' flashing across the screen in various forms.
Ten viewers complained to the Advertising Standards Authority that the flashing images caused the onset of symptoms associated with photo-sensitive epilepsy, while one viewer reportedly suffered a fit.
The advertising industry’s rule states: 'Adverts must not include visual effects or techniques that are likely to affect adversely members of the audience with photosensitive epilepsy.'
However the TV companies said the advert had been cleared for broadcasting after it passed an industry test which analyses flashes and patterns.
But Ofcom experts said passing this test with the automated test equipment did not guarantee that an advert complied with the guidelines.
They advised the ASA that the large word 'Yes' flashing on its own in the commercial did not breach the industry code.
But they said smaller 'Yes' words flashing breached the rules relating to the brightness of images.
The ASA said: 'We noted that Ofcom had identified that the ad had met all three conditions needed to be considered a breach of their guidance.
'We also noted that several complainants had told us that they suffered symptoms associated with photo-sensitive epilepsy, including a seizure.
'We therefore concluded that the ad had breached the code.'
It added: 'The advert must not appear again in its current form.'
The makers of the test equipment who had approved the advert for screening have now introduced changes to prevent similar image sequences from being passed in future.
Too stupid ! The car doesn't need tricks to be sold.
While I'd say it is a bit preposterous to name it a DS - it has nothing so revolutionary - the car is still quite impressive. I wouldn't say it has all the pizzaz the MINI has, since this is the target, but it has its own originality.
Citroen's are very far from other French car makers. They have their own touch that keeps them apart. When they launched the C line back a few years ago, it was ann instant best seller.
re: Citroen advert banned from TVen>frfr>en By WilyB Comments: 28505, member since Sat Apr 26, 2003
On Wed Jan 18, 2012 05:10 PM
Whatchamacallit wrote:
The adverts for the Citroen DS4
.../...
Too stupid ! The car doesn't need tricks to be sold.
While I'd say it is a bit preposterous to name it a DS - it has nothing so revolutionary - the car is still quite impressive. I wouldn't say it has all the pizzaz the MINI has, since this is the target, but it has its own originality.
Do you ever read what you post?
It is an ad for the new DS4, so yes the new car needs to be advertised, and no, the target is definitively not the Mini. That would be the role devoted to the DS3.
Remember what I taught you the other day: the BMW Mini and the DS3 share the same PEUGEOT engine.
The DS4 is the second model launched in Citroen's bold new line-up of upmarket alternatives to its mainstream offerings. It follows the much-lauded DS3 onto the market, but doesn't share the same rival-focused design brief. Where the smaller hatchback was conceived as a straight competitor to BMW's Mini, Citroen claims the C4-derived DS4 has no direct rivals as it combines a coupe profile with five-door practicality and the raised driving position of a crossover.
re: Citroen advert banned from TVen>frfr>en By balls Comments: 26999, member since Tue Aug 24, 2004
On Wed Jan 18, 2012 05:40 PM
Citroen advert banned from TV citing that the ad seemed to elicit the urge in fr*nch "men" to date other fr*nch "men". Furthermore, the brand is in jeopardy due to a lawsuit filed by the Miata Owners group seeing it as a threat to the status of the official car of ass pirates.
Citroen? Do they still make cars? I haven't seen a Citroen in the USA in years. I mean an actual Citroen, not some Chinese or Korean crap re-badged with the Citroen name. No loss though, we have more than enough crap brands here already.
Edited by Lord_Haw_Haw (82577) on 2012-01-18 19:27:33
OldCujo wrote:
Citroen? Do they still make cars? I haven't seen a Citroen in the USA in years. I mean an actual Citroen, not some Chinese or Korean crap re-badged with the Citroen name. No loss though, we have more than enough crap brands here already.
yes they do, and very good ones. Andre Citroen was my favourite Jew. Henry Ford admired him as a brilliant engineer, and those that came after hime gave us the DS " Goddess " 2cV etc
re: Citroen advert banned from TVen>frfr>en By simplefrench Comments: 64556, member since Wed Mar 19, 2003
On Wed Jan 18, 2012 08:23 PM
OldCujo wrote:
Citroen? Do they still make cars? I haven't seen a Citroen in the USA in years. I mean an actual Citroen, not some Chinese or Korean crap re-badged with the Citroen name. No loss though, we have more than enough crap brands here already.
They make good cars. Here it is a citroen which is 12 years old.
btw: Google is your friend if you search modern citroen.
I'd be apprehensive about driving a vehicle which has a button for a brake pedal (karma: 4)en>frfr>en By Klausbarbie Comments: 2457, member since Tue Mar 22, 2005
Who the fuck is that, Rolf Harris?