What does the term "false advertising" refer to?

The term "false advertising" specifically refers to making misleading claims about a product's characteristics. This encompasses any information provided in advertisements that can deceive consumers regarding the product's quality, use, or benefits. The essence of false advertising lies in the intent to mislead potential buyers, which might involve exaggerating features, hiding important information, or outright fraudulent claims.

In this context, misleading claims undermine the consumer's ability to make informed purchasing decisions, which is a fundamental principle of consumer rights. Accurate and honest advertising is essential for maintaining fair competition and protecting consumers from being deceived.

The other choices, while they pertain to advertising practices, do not accurately capture the definition of false advertising. For instance, promoting products as environmentally friendly could be a true statement, but if it is misleading, that could fall under false advertising; however, this choice does not clearly define the issue itself. Limited-time promotional deals and advertising without specified prices also do not inherently involve deceptive practices related to product characteristics, thus they do not align with the primary focus of false advertising.