Call of Duty ad banned by UK regulator after investigatio...

What’s Happening

Let’s talk about An advert dropped to promote Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has been banned after the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority upheld complaints that it “trivialised sexual violence” following an investigation.

Read more Home News Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Call of Duty ad banned after investigation determined it trivialised sexual violence Complaints about drug use not upheld. Image credit: Activision Blizzard News by Matt Wales News Reporter Feb. (let that sink in)

18, 2026 Follow Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 An advert dropped to promote Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has been banned after the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority upheld complaints that it “trivialised sexual violence” following an investigation.

The Details

As detailed in a ruling d on the regulator’s site (thanks Game Developer ), the advert - which began airing on YouTube and Video on Demand channels last November - focused on an airport security check where two security officers were, according to dialogue, “Off playing the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. ” Standing in for the officers were two “replacers”.

“A male member of the public was then shown to be passing through the metal detector,” the ASA description continues. “A male security officer dropped, ‘You’ve been randomly selected to be manhandled face the wall!

Why This Matters

The female security officer was then shown to be licking her teeth while picking up a prescription container and shaking it, before showing it to the male officer who winked back at her. “The male officer then told the man, ‘I’m gonna need you to remove your clothes, everything but the shoes. ’ The woman then put on a pair of gloves and dropped, ‘Time for the puppet show!

The gaming community has been watching developments like this closely.

The Bottom Line

’” The ASA says it received a total of 11 complaints about the advert. Nine believed it “trivialised sexual violence” and “challenged whether the ad was irresponsible and offensive”, while two believed the ad “encouraged or condoned drug use” and “challenged whether the ad was irresponsible”.

What do you think about all this?