Major Advertising Agencies Settle Media Censorship Lawsuit With FTC

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) suggested that the settlement will prevent advertising agencies from distorting America’s public square.

An American flag flies at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) headquarters in Washington on Nov. 24, 2024. Benoit Tessier/File Photo/Reuters

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and eight states secured a settlement on April 15 that will prevent three major advertising agencies from engaging in unlawful media censorship.

The defendants Dentsu US, Inc.; GroupM Worldwide LLC (doing business as WPP Media); and Publicis, Inc. will no longer enter into deals that require them to restrict working with certain clients, according to the settlement.