SEEK has pulled a viral marketing ad for upcoming video game Mass Effect 2 just hours after it was posted, citing a breach of the company’s fair-use policy.
As reported byComputerworld, the ad offered positions as Biotic-Powered Super-Soldiers at a company called Cerberus.
“Due to the recent disappearance of entire human colonies, Cerberus is looking for a team of elite assassins to join the fight for mankind,” the ad read.
“You will have a passion for the mercenary industry and a natural flair for killing… Blood, guts and exploding torsos is all in a day’s work for you, and you love it!”
A spokesperson for SEEK would not disclose who placed the ad, citing confidentiality purposes, but said a new account had been created prior to posting. The account was now on hold following the discovery and take-down of the advertisement.
“The ACCC actually has clear guidelines on advertising and ensuring that any job advertised is a real one and not misleading,” the spokesperson told Computerworld. “If it’s brought to our attention outside our current checks then we’ll take down the ad immediately, which we’ve done in this case."
The incident follows the posting of an IT Developer ad for Border Express on the site earlier in the week, which featured job requirements such as “DD Cup breasts” and a “slim waist.”
The SEEK spokesperson said that the ad, which has since been amended and referred to the police, was modified by at the account owners end, not SEEK’s.
“There was no breach of security at SEEK,” the spokesperson said. “The account password and login were used from that advertiser. We’ve passed the details onto Albury/Wodonga Police for their review and the ad has been amended I believe to reflect the true role and advertised in line with the Employment Act.”
The spokesperson said SEEK was not reviewing its policies despite its use for viral marketing arguing it already had a series of checks in place which were reviewed regularly.
“Given the ACCC laws plus our terms and conditions, if we feel the ad is inappropriate then we’ll remove it while it’s investigated — and in the future continue to review and remove ads if we feel they’re inappropriate,” the spokesperson said.