As an agency specializing in Telegram-first campaigns across India, we have a unique role in shaping how messages are distributed to diverse audiences. Our work reaches students, professionals, homemakers, parents, rural communities, and urban youth — across languages, regions, and belief systems.
This Advertising Ethics Policy outlines our commitment to responsible communication, in line with:
- The Indian Constitution
- Guidelines from the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI)
- Provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and its 2021 rules
- Platform-specific norms for Telegram and messaging-based platforms
- Our own values as a growth agency focused on Bharat-first marketing
This document applies to all internal team members, client partners, creators, content suppliers, and freelancers associated with TMA Ads.
🔒 1. Commitment to Truth & Accuracy
We do not create, promote, or distribute false or misleading content on any campaign.
We Specifically Prohibit:
- Fabricated claims (“Lose 10 kg in 3 days”)
- Fake testimonials or manipulated user reviews
- Unsubstantiated data or “scientific” stats
- Edited screenshots or fake app store ratings
All Claims Must Be:
- Fact-checked and, where possible, backed by research or user proof
- Clearly worded, avoiding exaggeration or ambiguity
- Labeled as promotional, especially in influencer campaigns
We reserve the right to refuse or suspend any campaign that fails to meet basic standards of truthful representation.
🙏 2. Cultural and Religious Sensitivity
India is a pluralistic society with diverse beliefs. We take utmost care to ensure our campaigns do not insult, provoke, or stereotype any religion, caste, or community.
Our Guidelines:
- No use of religious figures, scriptures, or places of worship in a commercial context
- Avoid content that mocks or trivializes religious customs or attire
- No campaigns targeting or excluding people based on caste, creed, or faith
- No political or religious memes that could be interpreted as divisive or inflammatory
If a campaign uses regional idioms, rituals, or spiritual themes, it must be done with context, permission (if required), and respect.
We follow the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting advisories and Section 153A and 295A of the IPC, which prohibit content that promotes enmity or insults religious beliefs.
🏛️ 3. Political & Election-Related Advertising
Political content on Telegram — especially during election cycles — is heavily regulated.
We Do Not:
- Promote political parties or candidates without pre-certification from the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC)
- Allow anonymous political messaging via bots or bulk posts
- Run campaigns that attempt to manipulate voter opinion through misleading narratives, fake news, or misinformation
If a campaign involves political messaging:
- It must include publisher disclosure
- It must follow Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951
- Client identity and funding must be transparent
- No hate speech, communal targeting, or character assassination is permitted
We encourage political clients to use Telegram for education, updates, and voter engagement, not polarization.
🩺 4. Health & Wellness Advertising
Health is a highly sensitive space — especially when distributed via Telegram, where regulation is looser than traditional platforms.
We follow ASCI’s Health and Personal Care Guidelines and government advisories from:
- Ministry of AYUSH
- Drug and Cosmetics Act, 1940
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
Strictly Prohibited:
- “Cure” claims for diabetes, cancer, infertility, etc.
- Sexually suggestive ads for pills or tonics
- Unverified homeopathy, ayurveda, or herbal remedy claims
- Unrealistic before-after visuals
- Fad diets, detox programs, or weight-loss shortcuts
All health content must be:
- Backed by medical or clinical evidence
- Clearly marked if it’s promotional or testimonial
- Free from misleading urgency (“limited time to detox” or “act now to prevent cancer”)
We do not promote health misinformation, and all claims are subject to audit before campaign approval.
🔞 5. Age-Sensitive Content & Targeting
Telegram reaches a wide audience — including minors, students, and families. We are deeply committed to protecting young users from inappropriate, exploitative, or misleading content.
Prohibited Content in Youth-Facing Campaigns:
- Explicit sexual references, adult jokes, or clickbait imagery
- Promotions for alcohol, tobacco, vaping, or related products
- Gambling, betting, or crypto without required disclaimers and age targeting
- Get-rich-quick schemes targeted at students
- Offers that encourage excessive spending without financial responsibility
If a campaign targets audiences under 18:
- It must be age-appropriate
- Clearly marked with age gating where applicable
- Include disclaimers and warnings where legally required
We comply with the Juvenile Justice Act, COTPA Act (for tobacco), and upcoming provisions of the Digital India Bill regarding age-appropriate content.
🌐 6. Language & Regional Adaptation
As a multilingual agency, we work across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, Malayalam, and English content — often for Tier 2 and 3 Indian markets.
We are careful to:
- Avoid regional slurs, offensive humor, or stereotypes
- Localize respectfully, not lazily translate
- Check idiomatic phrases to prevent misinterpretation
- Avoid invoking religious, caste, or linguistic rivalries — even subtly
Each regional campaign is reviewed by a native language speaker before launch.
📵 7. Privacy & Consent in Messaging
Telegram allows mass distribution, but we respect digital dignity and privacy.
We do not support:
- Adding users to groups without consent
- Sending personal messages without opt-in
- Sharing or selling user phone numbers, group joins, or behavioral data
- Scraping users from Telegram or WhatsApp for retargeting
All our campaigns:
- Include opt-in mechanisms (via links, forms, QR)
- Offer opt-out options in bots or channel descriptions
- Respect user silence — no excessive push messages
We comply with India’s IT Rules, 2021, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 regarding consent, data storage, and user rights.
🔍 8. Influencer & Creator Content Ethics
For any influencer-based Telegram campaign:
- Promotional content must include clear #Ad, #Sponsored, or equivalent disclosures (as per ASCI influencer guidelines)
- Testimonials must reflect real experience or be clearly dramatized
- Creators must not promote illegal, harmful, or sensitive products to young users
- Regional creators must respect community standards and not use inflammatory language
We hold creators to the same ethical standards as brands.
🚫 9. Blacklist: What We Never Promote
We will not run or distribute campaigns involving:
- MLM or pyramid schemes
- Loan apps or financial platforms with unclear RBI status
- Unlicensed betting or gambling services
- Pornography or adult content
- Hate speech or politically communal content
- Fake giveaways, phishing, or “you’ve won ₹10,000” scams
- Deepfakes or manipulated media
- Violent, abusive, or emotionally coercive ads
- Misuse of national symbols (flag, anthem, currency)
If we suspect a client or campaign violates these standards, we will pause immediately and report if necessary.
🛡️ Enforcement, Review & Reporting
Every campaign passes through a compliance review before publishing. This includes:
- A legal and cultural checklist
- Language tone and regional fit
- Claim verification (especially for health, finance, and political content)
If any violation is discovered post-launch:
- The campaign will be suspended
- The client will be notified
- Refunds or future contracts may be affected
- Serious violations may be reported to the relevant authorities
We encourage our team, clients, and users to flag unethical content to [email protected].
🙏 In Summary
At TMA Ads India, we believe good marketing is responsible marketing. Our commitment is not just to clicks or conversions — but to trust, truth, and cultural integrity.
As Telegram and digital messaging grow deeper into Indian society, it is our duty to use them ethically, wisely, and inclusively.
We thank our partners and team for holding us to this standard — every day, on every campaign.
TMA Ads India – Responsible Growth, Built for Bharat.
For questions, clarifications, or policy updates, please contact:
📧 [email protected] | 📞 +91-XXXXXXXXXX