# Guerrilla Anti-Ad Groups 'Les Deboulonneurs' Protesters Graffiti Slogans On French Billboards By Marissa Brassfield | Published 2009-02-04 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/les-deboulonneurs References: [news.bbc](http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_7500000/newsid_7506600/7506642.stm) & [flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/hughes_leglise/sets/72157594305707648/) '[Collectif des Déboulonneurs](http://www.deboulonneurs.org/)' is a guerrilla anti-advertising group in France that protests the in-your-face pervasiveness of outdoor public billboards and posters. 'Les Déboulonneurs' roughly translates to 'dismantlers,' according to the BBC, and their modus operandi is to graffiti anti-advertising slogans atop public billboards. What's more, they often tip law enforcement officers off to their location so that they're arrested--a move that's perhaps more appropriate for the paparazzi than the police. Be sure to check out the video above (it's all in French, but the video will give you the gist), and for more images, click through the Flickr set below. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.0/10 - Popularity: 43% | Activity: 9% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Graffiti](https://www.trendhunter.com/graffiti) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Anti-advertising Activism:** There is an emerging trend of anti-advertising activism with groups like Les Deboulonneurs using guerrilla tactics to protest billboards and posters. - **Graffiti as Protest:** Graffiti is being utilized as a form of protest by groups such as Les Deboulonneurs to send a message against the overuse of public ads in France. - **Enforcement Collaboration:** Collaboration between anti-advertising activism groups and law enforcement officials can provide a disruptive innovation opportunity to help regulate the use of public ads in public spaces. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Advertising:** The advertising industry should take note of how groups like Les Deboulonneurs are challenging the use of public billboards and posters through guerrilla tactics, and innovate ways to address the concerns. - **Law Enforcement:** Law enforcement officials can collaborate with anti-advertising activism groups like Les Deboulonneurs to create new solutions that regulate the use of public ads in public spaces. - **Urban Planning:** Urban planners have an opportunity to create policies and regulations that balance the use of public ads with the preservation of public spaces and the natural environment. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Art-Promoting Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beige-billboards.md) - [Innovative Outdoor Advertising Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/outdoor-advertising-campaign.md) - [Calmly Dimmed Billboard Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/decaf-billboard.md) - [Interactive E-Waste Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cash-for-trash.md) - [Athletic Apparel Interactive Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shoplift-campaign.md) - [Pollution-Removing Murals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/this-campaign-sucks.md) - [Billboard-Transformed Tent Shelters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lifesaving-outdoors.md) - [Beer-Pouring Party Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jubel-billboard.md) - [Charitable Live-Marketing Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/living-billboards.md)