A Criminologist's Diary-53

A Criminologist’s Diary-53

Account Criminology and Criminal Ju...

Crimes Relating to Advertisements

An advertisement simply means ‘a paid announcement, as of goods for sale, in newspapers or magazines, on radio or television etc.’ [Webster’s]. Accordingly, advertising means ‘ the act or practice of calling public attention to one’s product ,service and need etc. esp. by paid advertisements in newspapers and magazines, over radio or television ,on bill boards etc. to get more customers by advertising’[Random House College Dictionary]. Commercial means ‘prepared, done or acting with sole or chief emphasis on salability, profit or success’ [Webster’s]. And we have a lot of commercial advertisements/advertising in all media and they become crimes in different and various ways. How?

An investment fraud called TEAK-GOAT- MANGIUM invested more than 600 crores of Indian rupees for advertisements and it amassed a lot of wealth until at last the enterprise was wound up. False employment bureaus, fake technicians and medical doctors, recruitment and Visa rackets, Mafias of all descriptions, white collar criminals from all professions, ‘religious’ frauds of many categories resort to massive advertisements. There are advertisement firms which have a lucrative business in producing films, video pictures, advertisement attractions etc. Thus, when one views the television channels, he can see thousands and thousands of advertisements which are purposefully intended to fool or cheat the general public. The advertisements of Ayurveda medicines are without any proof to establish their claims. Sex stimulating medicines, health nourishners, energy guaranteeing medicines are plenty and they misuse the trust of the people on the media which publish such lies. Here too, ‘repeat a lie, repeat it several time…it becomes a truth’ psychology works. The single medicine for any diseases that affect the liver,, shampoo without chemicals, creams with incredible qualities, tooth pastes with dentists’ certificates, detergents with unimaginable results, soaps with unthinkable benefits, gold, cloths, insurances, automobiles ,fans, utensils, lotteries and other gambling, resorts and massage centers, religious retreats and fests, relics and prayers, mobile phones and what not?- all are advertised in the print and electronic media with no liability over what they say, show or write. Neither the media nor the advertisers have any responsibility for committing frauds. People are cheated and the media make money and business by such advertisements.

What is the liability of the media to publish or publicize falsehood with an intention to cheat the public? Or do they have no liability at all? If adulterated food is sold, action is taken. If the trust is violated there is the law to initiate criminal action for breach of trust. If fake technicians are found, they are proceeded against, If false claims are made, they are caught for committing crimes. But no such actions are taken against the advertisers, advertising firms, advertising media for their cheating the public with all sorts of nefarious methods. Why? There should be laws to control advertisements and to publish only true facts under advertisement in the media.