FTC Reined in by Judge for Retaliating Against Media Group
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been reined in by a judge for allegedly retaliating against the nonprofit Media Matters for America. The group won a court order blocking the FTC's demand for documents as part of an antitrust investigation into advertising boycotts. The FTC had sought information from Media Matters, which had been critical of the agency's leadership and its investigation into online advertising. However, the judge ruled that the FTC's demand was likely retaliation for Media Matters' criticism, a violation of the group's First Amendment rights. The court order represents a significant setback for the FTC's probe, which had faced allegations of political bias and overreach. The decision underscores the importance of protecting the free speech rights of media organizations, even when they are critical of government agencies.
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