Advertising Policy
Effective 2019-10-08
At iMatr, we want our users and advertisers to understand what advert content is allowed. These Advertising Policies provide guidance and information on the approval process, implementation and other things users and advertisers should know in getting adverts to their target audience.
Linking an advertiser to an issue, or hosting an advertiser's issue, carries responsibility. Similarly, user suggested links to information (content, video) that gives a pro, con, or neutral perspective on an issue, is also important stuff. That's why iMatr will not accept all advertising.
1. Starting the review process
Before an advert appears on iMatr our teams works hard to ensure that each advert meets our Advertising Policy. In normal circumstances, this process takes about 24 hours, but in some cases it can be longer.
Things we look at include; the advert's images, content, text, positioning and final landing page. Although landing pages are not part of iMatr, the links iMatr provides to its users, need to be in compliance with our Advertising Policy. For example, if a link leading to a landing page is not fully functional, or doesn't match the product, service or politician being advertised, the advert will not be approved.
Once the review process has been completed, an advertiser will receive an email notification letting them know whether their advert has been approved. If approved, iMatr will start running the advert. The ongoing activity and results during the adverts contracted term, may be seen on the Advert Data Manager.
2. What to do if an advert is disapproved
Adverts that do not fully comply with iMatr's Advertising Policy, can be resubmitted once they have been edited. Adverts may be edited by following these steps:
First, check the email address submitted and associated with the advert account to find the advert submission response email. This would be the email address used by the user at their first point of contact with iMatr.
Review the contents of the email to understand the non-complaint area(s). Edit the advert to create a compliant one and save all changes.
Resubmit your advert by email for further review by using either:
Politicians may use their regular Contact page in their Profile Manager to resubmit their adverts.
After any subsequent resubmissions, iMatr reserves the right to approve or disapprove any advert that it deems is in non-compliance with its Advertising Policy.
3. Why certain adverts may not be approved - prohibited content
1. Terms of Use
Adverts must not violate our Terms of Use. For example, a user may not submit and run an add for an election, for a specific audience, unless in fact that user submitting the ad is officially registered for the advert's advertised election. This conduct would fall under the prohibition by users to create unlawful, misleading or fraudulent content or representations.
2. Illegal products or services
Adverts must not promote, facilitate or validate illegal products, services or activities. Adverts targeting user audiences under the age of 18 must not promote products, services or content that is inappropriate, illegal or unsafe, or that may exploit, mislead or exert undue pressure. For example, although euthanasia may be legal in Canada under certain circumstances, no organization may expect, that an advert, marketing a "do it yourself kit" for ending one's life, will be approved as a link, to an euthanasia issue. Adverts that promote non-compliance with standing laws on an issue will be rejected.
3. Discriminatory practices
Adverts must not incite, promote or condone discriminatory practices against individuals, politicians, users or organizations. For example, an organization seeking new members that is linked to tenant rental rights, may not run an add seeking members who are only single unmarried people who are not of some ethnic origin.
4. Tobacco products
Adverts must not promote the sale or use of tobacco products.
5. Drugs and drug-related products
Adverts must not promote the sale or use of illegal, prescription or recreational drugs. For example, adverts that promote the use and sale of Cannabis, although legal in Canada, must not contravene provincial and/or municipal laws for the target audience.
6. Unsafe supplements
Adverts must not promote the sale or use of unsafe supplements, as determined by iMatr at its sole discretion.
7. Adult products or services
Adverts must not promote the sale of adult products or services, unless they promote medical health and well being within the context of existing laws, and their intended audience. For example, contraceptive adverts will not be approved if the target audience are users under the age of 18.
8. Adult content
Adverts must not contain adult content which includes nudity, depictions of people in explicit or suggestive positions or activities that are sexually provocative.
9. Third-party infringement
Adverts must not contain any content which infringes on or violates the rights of any third party, including copyright, trademark, privacy or other personal or proprietary rights. To report content that may infringe on a third party's rights, users may contact iMatr using the platform's Contact page.
10. Sensational content
Adverts containing shocking, disrespectful, sensational or excessively violent content will be rejected.
11. Personal attributes
Adverts must not contain content that asserts directly or indirectly, in any negative way, implications arising out of a person's race, ethnic origin, religion, beliefs, age, sexual orientation or practices, gender identity, disability, medical condition, financial status, criminal record or personal name.
12. Misleading, or false representations and content
Adverts containing false, deceptive or misleading content, or claims which deceive or offer deceptive actions or business practices, will be rejected.
13. Landing page links that don't work
Although the content, form and all aspects of an advert may be deemed acceptable, it can be rejected if the link to the advert does not work.
14. Grammar, profanity, use of symbols, numbers and letters
All profanity, bad grammar, lewd language, and the inappropriate use of numbers, symbols and letters will be rejected. The intentional use of numbers, symbols and letters to circumvent our review process or platform surveillance, will be rejected and where permitted, reported to law enforcement.
15. Personal health
Adverts must not contain "before-and-after" images or images that contain unexpected or unlikely results. Images that imply or attempt to create a negative self-perception in order to promote any health-related products will be rejected. Adverts for health, weight loss or fitness products, are to be targeted only to audiences 18 years and older.
16. Payday loans, cash advances
Adverts promoting payday loans, payslip advances, or any short term financing intended to cover someone's expenses until their next pay, will be rejected.
17. Investment Opportunities, multi-level marketing
Adverts promoting business opportunities must fully describe the associated business model. Models touting get rich quick schemes with little investment, including multi-level marketing opportunities will be rejected.
18. Bidding auctions
Adverts promoting penny auctions, biddding fee auctions or other similar business models will be rejected.
19. Disruptive or meaningless content
Adverts which lead to disruptive landing pages that provide unexpected content will not be accepted. This includes misleading content which uses sensationalized headlines, landing users to pages that contain minimal orginal content or unrelated low quality advert content.
20. Spyware or malware
Adverts must not contain any spyware, malware or any software that results in an unexpected or deceptive experience. Links to such sites are prohibited.
21. Automatic animation
Adverts must not contain audio or flash animation which plays automatically without a user's activated consent.
22. Unauthorized streaming products
Adverts promoting products or items that facilitate unauthorized access to digital medial will be rejected.
23. Circumventing approval - systems
Adverts must no use tactics or technologies that are intended to circumvent iMatr's review process or other enforcement systems. Techniques that attempt to disguise an advert's content or landing page will be rejected.
24. Financial products and services
Adverts promoting financial products and services that are frequently associated with misleading or deceptive promotional practices will not be accepted.
4. Restricted content
An advertisers disclaimer must disclaimer must accurately represent the name of the entity or person responsible for the ad.
Disclaimers must not include URLs or acronyms, unless they make up the complete official name of the organization.
Disclaimer must not include profanity, objectionable language, or unrecognizable words, phrases or references.
Disclaimers must not wrongfully imply that your ads are paid for by, with, or on behalf of iMatr.
Disclaimer must not wrongfully imply that a foreign leader, government or agency has paid for the ad.
Disclaimer must not include “Paid for by” language that duplicates the same language provided by iMatr.
1. Alcohol
Adverts that promote or reference alcohol must comply will applicable local, provincial and federal laws, including industry codes, guidelines, licences and approvals, in particular age criteria for targetted audiences.
2. Dating
Adverts for online dating services are only allowed with prior written approval, and which meet all Terms of Use and Privacy Policies.
3. Gambling
Adverts that promote or facilitate online gambling, real money games or skill or chance, real money lotteries, including online money casinos, sport books, bingo or poker, are only allowed with prior written permission. Such adverts must target users over the age of 18 who are in jurisdictions permitted by law.
4. Government lotteries
Adverts promoting government lotteries are permitted where law permits in the jurisdiction in which the advert will be served and only for target audiences in the jurisdiction in which the lottery is available.
5. On line pharmaceuticals
Adverts for online and offline pharmacies, or the promotion and sale of pharmaceuticals is only permitted with prior written approval.
6. Supplements
Adverts which promote acceptable dietary and herbal supplements will be permitted if their target audience is over the age of 18.
7. Financial services
Adverts promoting credit card applications or financial services with accredited financial institutions must clearly provide sufficient disclosure regarding all associated fees, costs, including APR percentages transaction fees, on the advert's landing page. Adverts promoting loans or insurance services must not contain requests for users to input personal information, financial information including credit card information.
8. Branded content
Adverts promoting branded content must provide written notice to iMatr that it has the right, authority and permission to use the branded content within the advert. Branded content within adverts is defined as a creator or publisher's content that features or is influenced by a third-party business partner for and exchange of value.
9. Student loan services
Adverts promoting student loans or loan services can not be targeted to audiences that are not at least 18 years of age. In such case, adverts must not promote misleading or deceptive services relating to student loan consolidation, cancellation or refinancing.
10. Political advertisements
Advertisers who run political candidate, political party, election related or issue adds, must comply with applicable laws and iMatr's Terms of Use.
Adverts placed with the "Paid for by" disclaimer, must comply with the following guidelines:
11. Cryptocurrency products and services
Adverts regarding crytpocurrency and related products and services must obtain prior written approval.
12. Addiction and treatment centers
Adverts promoting drug, alcohol or other addiction treatment centers are permitted only with prior written approval.
4. Video advertising
All video adverts and other dynamic advert types must comply will all the rules listed in these Advertising Policies, including our Terms of Use.
1. Disruptive content
Active adverts, videos and other animated content, must not use overly disruptive tactics such as flashing screens.
2. Entertainment related advert restrictions
Adverts promoting TV programmes, video game and film trailers and other similar content intended for mature audiences are permitted only with prior written approval. Such adverts must only target users who are over the age of 18, and must not include excessive depictions of drug or alcohol use, adult content, profanity and violence and gore.
5. Audience targeting
1. Advertisers must not use targeting options to discriminate against, alienate, harass, provoke or disparage users, or to engage in predatory advertising practices.
2. Advertisers targeting custom audiences by linking to an issue, must have relevant content related to the issue.
6. Advert positioning
1. Relevance
All advert components, including any images or text, or other media, must be relevant and appropriate to the page or content being presented to the iMatr audience viewing the advert.
2. Accuracy
Adverts must clearly identify the company, product or service, or brand that is being advertised.
3. Linked landing page
The products and services promoted in an advert's text, including the company name, must match those promoted in the linked landing page. The end destination site must not offer or link to any prohibited content, product or service.
7. Advert solicitation
Advertisers are not permitted to create lead adverts which lead users to questions about the following types of information without iMatr's prior written permission.
1. Account numbers
Adverts are not permitted to request account numbers, including frequent flyer numbers, loyalty card numbers, cable, telephone mnumbers, without prior permission.
2. Criminal history
Adverts must request information regarding criminal or arrest history in landing pages without prior written permission.
3. Financial information
Adverts and their landing pages must not request financial information, including bank account number, bank routing numbers, credit card or debit card numbers, credit scores, income, networth, or a user's debt level, without prior written approval.
4. Government issued identifiers
Adverts and their landing pages must not request government issued identifiers, including social insurance, driver's licence, or passport number without our prior written permission.
5. Health information
Adverts and their landing pages must not request health information, including information on physical or mental health, medical treatments, medical conditions or disabilities, without prior written permission.
6. Insurance information
Adverts and their landing pages must not request user insurance information, including current insurance policy numbers, carrier names or levels of insurance, without our prior permission.
7. Political affiliation
Adverts and their landing pages must not request information regarding a user's political affiliation, without our prior written approval.
8. Race, Ethnicity, Religion, Sexual orientation
Adverts and their landing pages must not request information on a user's race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, information about the sexual life of the individual, including what gender(s) a user prefers to date, without our prior written approval.
9. Template questions
Adverts and their landing pages must not present users with a template of questions, without our prior written permission.
10. Trade union membership
Adverts may not request information regarding trade union membership status or affiliation without prior written permission.
11. User names or passwords
Adverts must not request usernames or passwords for their sites for both existing and new accounts, without our prior written permission. For ads directing people to sign up for an account with an advertiser's site or service, advertisers should use the "Click to website" notice.
8. Use of iMatr brand assets
When adverts feature the iMatr brand please refer to our Brand Usage Policy.
1. Brand endorsement
Adverts must not imply or explicitly state an iMatr endorsement or partnership of any kind.
2. Brand usage within ads
a. Adverts linking to iMatr branded content and issues may make limited reference to iMatr in advert text for the purposes of clarifying the destination of the advert.
b. Adverts should not place or position iMatr in a way that makes it stand out, or be the most distinctive or prominent feature of the creative.
c. IMatr brand assets should not be modified in any way, such as changes in design, proportions, or color for either static content or animation.
3. Copyrights and trademarks
Adverts and landing pages are not permitted to use iMatr copyrights, trademarks or any similar marks which may confuse people, except as expressly permitted in writing.
4. User interface screen-shots
a. When featuring an iMatr user interface ("UI") in an advert, the advert must accurately depict how the UI currently appears and functions in product. If an action or functionality depicted cannot happen in the current iMatr product or within the current UI, it cannot appear to happen in the advert.
b. Depictions of a UI in adverts must occur in the context of a relevant device (eg. desktop or mobile) and as permitted by the iMatr Brand Usage Policy.
c. IMatr's UI cannot be modified in any way, including but not limited to: adding special effects, interference or animation. Furthermore, icons; glyphs, or individual elements may not be used separately or individually, except as expressly permitted in writing.
9. Advert data usage restrictions
1. Any advert data collected, received or derived from an iMatr advert (the "IMatr advertising data"), can only be shared with someone acting on the advertisers behalf, such as the advertisers service provider. Advertisers are responsible for ensuring that their service providers protect any iMatr advertising data or any other information obtained from iMatr, limit the use of the information, and keep it confidential and secure.
2. IMatr advertising data may not be used for any purpose (including targeting, commingling data across multiple advertisers' campaigns or allowing piggypacking or redirecting with tags), except on an aggregate and anonymous basis (unless authorized by iMatr) and only to assess the performance and effectiveness of an advertiser's campaign.
3. IMatr advertising data, including the targeting criteria for an advert, may not be used to build, append to, edit, influence or augment user profiles, including profiles associated with any mobile device identifier or other unique identifiers that identify any particular user, browsers, computer or other device.
4. Advertisers must not transfer any iMatr advertising data (including anonymous, aggregate, or derived data) to any advertising agency, network, advert exchange, data broker or other advertising or monetization-related service.
10. Other considerations
1. These Advertising Policies apply to adverts and commercial content served by or purchased through iMatr, on or off iMatr services or Products. Advertisers use of iMatr Products and services is part of iMatr and is subject to iMatr's Terms of Use and Privacy Policies. Advertisers may be subject to additional terms or guidelines depending on the nature of the advert and/or target audience.
2. Advertisers are responsible for understanding and complying with all applicable laws, regulations and iMatr policies. Compliance infractions may result in a variety of consequences, including the cancellation of adverts, and the cancellation of an advertiser's account.
3. Once an advert is published and displayed, adverts become public information. Adverts may be reshared and accessed outside the target audience, including from the iMatr Page running the advert or within other iMatr Products. If users have interacted with an advertiser's advert, it may have been shared with other users through social media links.
If an advert is a political ad, it will be displayed in our ADs area of our dashboard and be stored in our Ad archives. Information about the stored Ad, including total spend and delivery data, will held for a period of seven (7) years from the date of the completion of the order. The advert content, and all information associated with a political advert, may be disclosed to a governmental entity or body if iMatr believes that the requested disclosure would assist in a lawful investigation.
4. If an advertiser is represented by a third party agency, broker, or other marketing entity (the "Ad Managers"), the Ad Managers must manage each advertiser with a separate iMatr account. Ad Managers cannot change the advertiser or client associated with an established advert account. In such cases, a new account must be set up, for each new advertiser. Ad Managers are responsible for ensuring that each advertiser complies with these Advertising Policies.
5. IMatr reserves the right to reject, approve or remove any advert, link, suggested link to an issue, for any reason, at our sole discretion, including adverts or links that negatively affect iMatr's relationship with its users or that promote content, services or activities contrary to our competitive position, corporate interests or advertising philosophy.
6. Written permission regarding certain policies may be obtained from iMatr at Contact.
7. This Advertising Policy is subject to change at any time without notice. Advertisers are encouraged to review and understand the current Advertising Policy in effect when they set up their account.