30,000 online ads found to have posed a risk to health

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 2, 2026

The head of the UK's Advertising Standards Authority reported that over 30,000 health-related online ads pose serious risks to public health, including misleading claims targeting vulnerable groups. This highlights the urgent need for companies like Google and Meta to improve monitoring and restrict harmful health advertisements to better protect consumers.

The head of the UK’s advertising regulator has voiced concerns over the proliferation of misleading and potentially harmful health-related adverts on social media platforms. Guy Parker, chief executive of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), highlighted the role of online marketing in amplifying risks to consumers and urged major companies such as Google and Meta to strengthen efforts to block deceptive health claims.

The ASA’s recent monitoring of digital advertisements uncovered a vast number of health-related promotions, with approximately 309,000 adverts identified across various websites and social media channels. Of these, over 30,000 were deemed to pose a high risk to public health. The flagged ads included products targeting a wide range of conditions, from baby sleep aids and menopause supplements to hair loss treatments. Some adverts specifically targeted vulnerable groups, such as individuals with multiple sclerosis or those recovering from a stroke, implying that conventional medical interventions were inadequate.

“There is no doubt that the online environment has amplified harms, which is why we have employed artificial intelligence tools to scan and assess health claims made in adverts,” Parker explained. He emphasized that many products continue to be promoted irresponsibly, potentially putting consumers at risk.

The ASA’s findings underscore ongoing challenges in regulating health product advertising in digital spaces, where rapid dissemination and lack of oversight can enable misleading information to reach wide audiences. Despite calls from regulators, platforms like Google and Meta have faced criticism for not doing enough to curb false or exaggerated health claims circulating through their services.

Parker called for greater accountability from social media companies to ensure that advertisements comply with standards designed to protect public health, suggesting that enhanced collaboration between regulators and platforms is essential to mitigating risks associated with misleading health marketing online.

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