Business · 18 February 2026
Call of Duty ad banned over airport security scene
Photo by Aleksey Kashmar on Unsplash
The UK's advertising watchdog has blocked a promotional video for Black Ops 7 following complaints from nine viewers. The controversial footage showed fake airport staff threatening a male traveller with an intrusive physical search. Officials decided that humour implying non-consensual penetration trivialised sexual violence and deemed the content irresponsible. Activision Blizzard cannot broadcast the spot in its current form despite arguing it was clearly a parody.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs