ASA: ‘atheist bus’ adverts not breaking code

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the UK has decided that the advertising carried for the “atheist bus” campaign started by Ariane Sherine is all above board.

The BBC reports the ASA as saying:

The Advertising Standards Authority said it assessed 326 complaints. Some claimed the wording was offensive to people who followed a religion.

But the body concluded the adverts were unlikely to mislead or cause widespread offence and closed the case.

…

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it would not be further investigating any complaints about the campaign, which was launched on British buses and the London Underground on the 6 January.

While some of the complaints claimed the adverts were offensive and denigrated people of faith, others challenged whether they were misleading because the advertiser would not be able to substantiate its claim that God “probably” did not exist.

However, the ASA ruled the adverts were an expression of the advertiser’s opinion and that the claims in it were not capable of objective substantiation.

Although the watchdog acknowledged the content of the campaign would be at odds with the beliefs of many, it concluded that it was unlikely to mislead or to cause “serious or widespread offence”.

Is that frantic typing on a keyboard in Cardiff that I can hear? The spittle-flecked bitching of whiny christian wingnut Stephen ‘Birdshit’ Green is surely forthcoming. I can’t wait.

BBC News: Atheist ads ‘not breaking code’
The Guardian: ASA clears Atheist Bus Campaign ads

Update: You can read the ASA’s conclusion on their web site.

/hattip: @AtheistBus, @ArianeSherine

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2. I’m on the ‘atheist bus’ ...
3. MPs attempt to ban ‘atheist bus’ campaign ...
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