Request ID: FOI-0869-2122 Date published: 25 August 2021
You asked
Global, Transport for London's advertising partner, has published Copy Approval Guidelines on its website for advertisements on the TfL estate:
https://www.global.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Copy-Approval-Policy.pdf
The footer on these guidelines state they were updated on 22 Mar 2021, to Version 1.6. In this Version of the guidelines, it states "Global must refer all advertising copy to TfL that includes references/images" of "cryptocurrencies (bitcoin)".
Under the Freedom of Information Act I now seek the following information on cryptocurrency advertisements:
1. From what date was Global first required to "refer all advertising copy to TfL that includes references/images" of "cryptocurrencies (bitcoin)"? i.e. What was the Version and date printed on the first Copy Approval Guidelines to include these requirements?
2. In 2020 or 2021, has any advertisement/advertising copy by the company Luno been referred to TfL? If so, please provide the following information about each advertisement/copy:
Name/description
The date it was referred to TfL
Whether or not it was approved by TfL
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-0869-2122
Thank you for your request received on 29 July 2021 asking for information about cryptocurrency advertisements.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require.
The copy approval guidelines that you provided a link for are from Global’s website not Transport for London’s. As the guidelines are not our document, we are unable to advise you as to when the ‘Version 1.6.’ footer was updated.
Our advertising policy can be found via this link http://content.tfl.gov.uk/tfl-advertising-policy-250219.pdf
We did however issue a request to all of our media partners in 2018 requesting that all cryptocurrency advertising was to be sent to us for review prior to running on our assets or estate.
In regard to Luno specifically, we had one piece of copy that was approved to run on 26 November 2020. In 2021, we have also had one piece of copy that was approved to run on 25 May.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please feel free to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
