FTC and Eight States Settle With Ad Agencies Over Alleged Boycotts
Settlement targets alleged coordinated ad restrictions based on political content.
WASHINGTON, April 16, 2026 – Three major advertising agencies reached a proposed settlement with the Federal Trade Commission and eight states over allegations they violated antitrust law by coordinating boycotts of conservative media outlets and online platforms, including X, the agency said Wednesday
The complaint, filed in federal court in Texas, alleges the firms colluded to limit advertising on certain platforms based on political content.
The settlement, if approved by a federal judge, would bar the firms from adopting shared “brand-safety” standards, which restrict ad placements based on what regulators described as politically biased criteria.
