Can the FTC actually penalize advertisers for invoking their own rights to free expression and association by refusing to deal with a private company just because they happened to agree on a collective set of brand standards to avoid monetizing hate speech or offensive content online?
You’re not alone if you’re confused by the suggestion, since advertisers have basically always cautiously avoided associations that could harm their brands. After Elon Musk sued MMFA—then quickly expanded the fight by also suing advertisers and agencies—a running social media joke mocked X as suing to force people to buy its products and the billionaire for seeming to believe it should be illegal to deprive him of money.
It’s not about winning the case. It’s about bullying people. What’s cheaper fighting a lawsuit that stretches on for years and endless amounts of money or just giving a bribe to Elon Musk or whatever other Rich friend of Donald Trump who wants a bribe? It sucks but people are going to make that calculation.