FTC Drops Ad Boycott Data Demands Made to Media Matters, Others

The US Federal Trade Commission has withdrawn document demands it made to three groups that track online misinformation, after the agency settled what it said were related antitrust claims against major advertisers over alleged politically motivated ad boycotts.

The non-profit Media Matters for America, NewsGuard Technologies Inc. and the Global Disinformation Index had fought the document demands, accusing the agency in lawsuits of illegal retaliation for constitutionally protected speech. The FTC claimed the information was needed as part of an investigation of collusive ad boycotts, though it has now withdrawn all three demands in the past week.