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Samsung looking at a lawsuit over its smartphone ad

Mobile

CIO Bulletin
2019-07-05

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has sued Samsung over its false advertisement which showed the Galaxy mobiles being capable of withstanding any kind of water condition. Its ads for the Galaxy phones showed the devices doing well in swimming pools and even while surfing. The Australian consumer watchdog was unimpressed by the ad.

The ACCC believes that the ad is highly misleading considering that the phones can’t survive being submerged in anything other than freshwater. Samsung’s website clearly states that Galaxy S10 series can resist dust and water for as much as 30 minutes at the depths of up to 1.5 meters. The website, however, does not advise users to use the phone for the beach or pool. The ads by Samsung’s Australian unit though suggested otherwise.

In a statement, the ACCC chairman Rod Sims said: “The ACCC alleges Samsung’s advertisements falsely and misleadingly represented Galaxy phones would be suitable for use in, or for exposure to, all types of water […] when this was not the case.”

Samsung in response has said that it will stand by its ad as it has adhered to the Australian laws and will defend the case.