Compliance
Part of Native campaign compliance reviews
Reviewing sponsored content claims before publication
Reconcile final sponsored article claims, headlines and promotions with their evidence before approving publication.
Before releasing a sponsored article, reconcile its final publication package with the claim decisions already made. Check the exact headline, article, captions, promotional teaser and linked offer. Approve a claim only when its final wording and likely impression remain within the available evidence; otherwise narrow it, remove it or hold the affected version.
Compare the final copy with its support
Start with the claim record or fact-checking brief, then read the version queued for publication. Mark every material change to a price, feature, comparison, customer outcome, availability statement or future result.
A number inside a quote or testimonial still needs support. Read the image and headline together; they can imply more than the body states.
| Final-copy check | Publication question |
|---|---|
| Product and audience | Does the claim describe the supported version, plan, market and customer group? |
| Measure and period | Does a comparison or result use the supported measure and time period? |
| Conditions | Are material eligibility rules and exceptions visible with the claim? |
| Promotion | Does the teaser leave a fair impression of the destination? |
The ACCC can require businesses to substantiate claims they make about their products or services, and may investigate if a business misleads. A sponsor’s sign-off can confirm its product details, but does not by itself prove a wider comparison or outcome.
Resolve changes in the release version
If the evidence supports only a narrower statement, put that wording in every affected location. Do not retain a broad headline after qualifying the body.
If no support is available, remove the claim and check whether the article’s angle still works. Record the decision against the exact copy version; approval of an earlier draft does not settle a later material edit.
For example, evidence about a result in one team would not support the hypothetical line “Our service makes every team faster”. Replacing “every” with “many” would still require grounds for “many”.
Send financial, credit or therapeutic goods claims for the applicable specialist review. ASIC’s Regulatory Guide 234 is titled Advertising financial products and services (including credit).
Therapeutic goods advertising has separate TGA requirements. Complete the general claim check and the relevant sector check before approving the affected copy.
Handling Changes in Release Version
- Identify material changes to claimsCompare final copy against original fact-checking brief or claim record
- Narrow or remove unsupported claimsReplace broad statements (e.g., 'every team') with supported ones (e.g., 'many teams') only if evidence exists
- Record decision against exact final versionApproval of earlier draft does not cover later material edits
