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I suspect that this would be classed as subliminal advertising here In Australia, which is banned by the television code of practice:

"1.8.4 use or involve any technique which attempts to convey information to the viewer by transmitting messages below or near the threshold of normal awareness."

An interesting subliminal advertising case cropped up a few years back: http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s2082405.htm

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If it was just done without a mention you are probably right, but in this case the voice from the advert instructs the users to close their eyes so draws their attention to the image so it's not subliminal.

I could be wrong though. It's probably a bit of a grey area.

What if someone secretly stuffs an object up one's butt and then instructs the person to pull it out at the end of the commercial? Probably a bit of a gray area too by the same reasoning.

(edit) For those not getting the joke - it meant to illustrate that the subsequent disclosure of something done without prior consent does not make it any more acceptable. Be it an image planted in one's head or something physical.

I hate that sort of advert.

Wow, I can picture a commercial for a Dove "beauty bar" and then at the end a white pigeon comes out your butt.

That would be so awesome.

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