Transport for London (TfL) has had one of its ads banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The ad showed a black teenage boy verbally threatening a white girl. The ASA said this ad "perpetuated the negative racial stereotype about black men as perpetrators of threatening behaviour." TfL ran three short ads on Facebook from a two-minute film titled "Would you know how to act like a friend?". These ads aimed to encourage Londoners to step in safely when witnessing sexual harassment or hate crimes on public transport. According to TfL, the other two ads showed a white man committing hate crimes against a black woman and another white man. TfL said the full film featured a diverse cast and showed two male youths harassing the girl, with the black teenager as the main aggressor and a white male friend who "boxed her in." TfL also shared that it was rare for users to see only this single ad, as Facebook’s algorithm usually showed all three. However, the ASA said that even if seen alone, the ad could cause harm. They disagreed with TfL’s claim that both boys were equally intimidating and found that the ad portrayed only the black teenager as the aggressor. The ASA concluded the ad was "irresponsible," "featured a harmful stereotype," and was "likely to cause serious offence." The ASA has banned the ad and instructed TfL to ensure future campaigns avoid racial stereotypes and remain socially responsible. The campaign was launched last October during national hate crime awareness week to promote safer public spaces.