The ICAS GLOBAL THINK TANK to co-host ‘CANNES RULES!’ – The first ever day dedicated to advertising law and self-regulation in Cannes
May 14, 2026 – The ICAS Global Think Tank announced that it will be co-hosting ‘Cannes Rules!’ on June 23, 2026 – the first-ever day dedicated to advertising law and self-regulation in Cannes. The full day program, which will cover critical topics such as artificial intelligence, influencers, environmental marketing, and the vital role that self-regulation plays in the advertising ecosystem – is presented by the ICAS Global Think Tank together with l’Autorité de Régulation Professionnelle de la Publicité, the European Advertising Standards Alliance, the Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance, and the International Chamber of Commerce. The event is hosted by La French Connexion.
Guy Parker, President of the ICAS Global Think Tank, said:
Advertising and technology are evolving at a rapid speed, bringing new opportunities for both the ad ecosystem and ad standards bodies, but also new risks and responsibilities. As technologies advance and expectations shift, ensuring trust in advertising is more important than ever. The Cannes Lions festival is a unique opportunity to bring together leaders from across the global advertising ecosystem to discuss how effective standards and self-regulation can support innovation, strengthen consumer confidence, and help ensure that responsible, creative advertising continues to thrive.
Guy will also moderate the ICAS Global Think Tank session ‘Trust Pays: The Business Case for Self-Regulation,’ (12:15 – 13:00) a session examining how effective self-regulatory systems create measurable economic value for businesses by strengthening people’s trust in advertising, reducing risk, supporting responsible innovation, and contributing to sustainable market growth and healthy competition. The session will explore why trust has become a critical competitive advantage and how industry-led accountability frameworks can help brands navigate a rapidly evolving advertising landscape.
“In today’s fast‑moving advertising landscape, understanding the rules and standards isn’t a constraint on creativity — it’s the foundation that allows it to flourish,” said Pascal Cübb, the founder of La French Connexion. “When brands and agencies know how to navigate the legal and self‑regulatory framework, they can push creative boundaries with confidence, protect consumer trust, and unlock their most ambitious ideas. This groundbreaking event in Cannes is about empowering the industry with the knowledge it needs to create boldly while staying responsible.”
Featured speakers at Cannes Rules! will include Ludovic Basset (Director General, EASA), Frederik Borestrom (Chairman, International Advertising Association), Brinsley Dresden (Chairman, GALA), Jeffrey A. Greenbaum (Immediate Past Chairman, GALA, and Vice-Chair ICC Global Advertising & Marketing Commission), Raelene Martin (Head of Sustainability, ICC), Stéphane Martin (Director General, ARPP), Guy Parker (President, ICAS Global Think Tank, and Chief Executive of the UK Advertising Standards Authority), Howard Smith (VP, BBB National Programs), and many others.
The Cannes Rules! program will include the following sessions:
- Creativity Has No Limit, Except Responsibility
- Influencer Marketing: (How) Are We Responsible?
- Trust Pays: The Business Case for Self-Regulation
- Substantiation In the Age of AI-Assisted Personalization
- The Trust Test: Environmental Marketing Under the Spotlight
- Why Self-Regulation Powers Responsible Creativity
Cannes Rules! will take place at the Croisette Beach Hotel from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. To register, visit https://www.jotform.com/form/260752076351051.
About the ICAS Global Think Tank
The ICAS Global Think Tank is a global thought-leadership forum convened by the International Council for Advertising Self-Regulation (ICAS), bringing together senior representatives from advertising self-regulatory organizations, brands, agencies, media companies, platforms, legal experts, and advertising specialists from around the world. As a first-of-its-kind, inclusive platform dedicated to advertising and self-regulation, the Think Tank was created to provide leadership in times of rapid change – from the rise of AI to evolving societal expectations. Designed to anticipate developments rather than merely react to them, it begins with open, cross-sector dialogue and helps inform the standards and principles that shape advertising practices worldwide.
Created in 2022, La French Connexion has become the “French Hub” at Cannes Lions and the meeting place, exchange and sharing hub for advertising industry. Numerous brands, agencies, medias, tech and adtech companies, platforms and professional organizations support this unique private place which will produce a wealth of content, breakfast, lunch and evening events every day all the Lions Week. We will also be celebrating France as the “Creative Country Of The Year” 2026.
Founded in 1935, the Autorité de Régulation Professionnelle de la Publicité (ARPP) is France’s advertising self-regulatory organization. Chaired by an independent high-profile figure, Ms. Christine Albanel (former French Minister), ARPP brings together the three players in advertising and communication: advertisers; agencies; media, platforms, and service providers across the advertising value chain. In 2021, ARPP expanded its Board of Directors to include a fourth college representing civil society.
Fully funded by its members (approximately 800 contributing companies), ARPP works daily to uphold the freedom of advertising creativity within agreed ethical boundaries while ensuring consumer protection.
EASA, the European Advertising Standards Alliance, represents and coordinates collective advertising self-regulatory systems across Europe, promoting high ethical standards in commercial communications. Its membership is made up of 28 independent advertising self-regulatory organisations (SROs), which enforce advertising self-regulatory codes of conduct at the national level, 14 advertising industry associations (advertisers, agencies, media), and 3 digital pure players, all supporting the self-regulatory systems and committing to their principles.
The Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance is an alliance of advertising lawyers from nearly 100 countries around with world with expertise in advertising law. GALA provides resources to help marketers navigate the complex and evolving legal issues they face around the world.
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the institutional representative of more than 45 million companies in over 170 countries. ICC’s core mission is to make business work for everyone, every day, everywhere. Through a unique mix of advocacy, solutions and standard setting, we promote international trade, responsible business conduct and a global approach to regulation, in addition to providing market-leading dispute resolution services. Our members include many of the world’s leading companies, SMEs, business associations and local chambers of commerce.
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