What is the purpose of self-regulation in the digital advertising industry?

Self-regulation in the digital advertising industry is primarily aimed at ensuring ethical practices. This approach allows industry stakeholders, including advertisers, agencies, and publishers, to set and adhere to standards that reflect responsible behavior in marketing communications. By establishing guidelines and codes of conduct, self-regulation helps protect consumers from misleading advertisements, privacy violations, and other unethical practices.

The focus on ethical practices fosters consumer trust and confidence in digital advertising, which is crucial for the industry’s long-term sustainability. This commitment to integrity encourages companies to act responsibly, promoting transparency and accountability within the marketplace.

While some may argue that self-regulation could reduce the need for external regulatory oversight or influence competition and costs, those are secondary outcomes that are not the inherent purpose of self-regulation itself. The primary goal centers around maintaining ethical standards in advertising, which directly impacts the industry's reputation and effectiveness.