Oinking email 'was not offensive'
One person was offended when an internet company sent out 100,000 e-mails which were titled ‘‘Your Girlfriend’’ - and made the noise of a pig when they were opened.
The e-mail was sent by Genie Internet, a London-based firm with more than 2.5 million registered users in the UK.
One person, who said they did not ask to be sent the message, complained to the British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), believing it was ‘‘offensive and unnecessarily personal’’.
Genie said the e-mail advert was designed to show the audio features of its Genie One product but apologised if any offence had been caused.
It maintained the e-mails were only sent to people who requested promotional material and added the e-mail was ‘‘upbeat, fresh and tongue-in-cheek’’.
After consideration, the ASA concluded that most people would find the e-mail humorous and rejected the complaint in its adjudication announced today.
