CCTV Expose Criticizes Today's Headlines for Illegal Medical Ads in Lower-tier Cities
TechWeb, 3/30/18
State broadcaster China Central Television recently aired an expose on a half hour economics program, accusing online and mobile news platform Today's Headlines of creating an advertising trap. Today's Headlines, operated by Beijing-based Bytedance Technology, reportedly sends a large volume of illegal advertisements to users in second- and third-tier cities, such as Nanning (Guangxi province) and Chengdu (Sichuan province), enticing consumers into a trap.
The illegal advertisements are mainly for drugs. When users click to expand an ad, initially only information from brand name suppliers is displayed, helping to increase user confidence. However, if the user then clicks any of the links within the ad, they are redirected to an outside page full of false advertisement claims. When consumers complain, the name brands producing authentic drugs often take the blame.
According to Today's Headlines, two employees in the Sichuan branch and one at a Nanning agency accepted bribes to violate company policies. The responsible parties have already been terminated. All ads cited by the news program have been removed, and the advertisers have been permanently blocked and added to an integrity black list. Today's Headlines has also permanently ended all partnership with the agency in Nanning.
Keywords: scandal online advertising mobile advertising healthcare wireless Internet CCTV Bytedance Today's Headlines online information service mobile information service
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