The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority has recently banned this television commercial; promoting Xbox 360. The decision to ban the advertisement was taken on the ground that it supposedly promoted street car racing amongst the youth, and thus, dangerous and reckless driving. The advertisement titled ‘Cops and Robbers’ was being aired since last year.
The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that the commercial broke rules relating to health and safety and driving standards and ordered it not to be shown again. It further noted that the ad ‘gave the impression that reckless street car racing was exciting and fun. And glamorised street car racing and could be seen to condone dangerous driving’.
In response advertising agency McCann Erickson on behalf of Microsoft, which makes the Xbox 360, said that the commercial did not show cars exceeding speed limits and the on-screen text explained all stunts were performed by professionals.
