FTC To Restrict Free Speech
Four douchebags at the Federal Trade Commission got together and decided that what the internet needs is some real strict regulations against free speech. They think that bloggers are ruining the marketplace because they might get freebies for product reviews.
From Fox News here:
The Federal Trade Commission will try to regulate blogging for the first time, requiring writers on the Web to clearly disclose any freebies or payments they get from companies for reviewing their products.
The FTC said Monday its commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the final Web guidelines, which had been expected. Violating the rules, which take effect Dec. 1, could bring fines up to $11,000 per violation. Bloggers or advertisers also could face injunctions and be ordered to reimburse consumers for financial losses stemming from inappropriate product reviews.
The commission stopped short of specifying how bloggers must disclose conflicts of interest. Rich Cleland, assistant director of the FTC’s advertising practices division, said the disclosure must be “clear and conspicuous,” no matter what form it will take.
Bloggers have long praised or panned products and services online. But what some consumers might not know is that many companies pay reviewers for their write-ups or give them free products such as toys or computers or trips to Disneyland.
Some bloggers do indeed shill products in exchange for cash, products or other favors. But this hardly impacts the market. Why would the Federal Government target legitimate marketing of real products and then continue to ignore herbal magic formula pills that supposedly do anything from shedding fat to growing hair or enlarging the penis? And the FTC has a long history of victories on the Internet regulating free speech- Remember the Can Spam act? How’s that one working out? Is spam reduced yet?
If someone challenges one of these fines, I think they could win in court. You can say or write anything you want on the Internet as long as it isnt slander or libel. People lie on the Internet all the time- just look at online dating sites! Is the FTC going to go after people that put up photos of themselves taken 10 years earlier and 30 pounds lighter?
