The FTC Risks Chilling Speech With Its Advertising Boycott Investigation

Published: Thursday, June 12, 2025 at 3:52 pm

**FTC Investigates Media Matters and Advertisers Over X Advertising Boycott**

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an investigation into Media Matters for America, a progressive nonprofit, concerning its role in an advertising boycott of X, formerly known as Twitter. The investigation has expanded to include major advertising groups, including Omnicron Group and the Interpublic Group.

The FTC's probe follows legal action initiated by X Corp. against Media Matters and the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA). X Corp. filed a lawsuit against Media Matters, alleging the nonprofit made false statements that disparaged the quality of X, leading to a loss of advertising contracts. X Corp. accused Media Matters of creating misleading images to portray the platform negatively. X Corp. also filed an antitrust lawsuit against the WFA.

The legal actions stem from an advertising boycott that occurred after Elon Musk acquired Twitter in November 2022. Advertisers contacted the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) for advice on advertising on the platform. The suit alleges that GARM expressed concerns about X's compliance with its standards, which prompted the boycott. X Corp. claims that WFA members violated antitrust laws by withholding advertising purchases from X.

Legal experts, including professors from the University of California, Davis School of Law, have weighed in on the matter. They cite Supreme Court precedents, such as *NAACP v. Claiborne* (1982) and *303 Creative v. Elenis* (2023), to argue that the First Amendment protects politically motivated boycotts and that companies cannot be forced to pay for speech they disagree with.

BNN's Perspective:

While the FTC's investigation into the advertising boycott raises important questions about market competition and the role of advocacy groups, the First Amendment implications are significant. The legal precedents cited suggest that the FTC's investigation may face significant hurdles. A balanced approach is needed to ensure fair market practices while protecting free speech rights.

Keywords:

FTC, Media Matters, X, Twitter, advertising boycott, antitrust, First Amendment, Elon Musk, WFA, GARM, free speech, legal, investigation, advertisers, lawsuit

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