Overview

• The Federal Trade Commission has launched an investigation into Media Matters to determine if it illegally coordinated with advertisers to withdraw spending from X, Elon Musk's social media platform.
• The FTC's civil investigative demand seeks records of Media Matters' communications with groups like the World Federation of Advertisers and the Global Alliance for Responsible Media.
• FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson previously signaled a focus on addressing potential collusion in advertiser boycotts, citing competition concerns.
• Media Matters has denied wrongdoing and claims Musk's lawsuits, which allege defamation and financial harm, are attempts to silence criticism of X's content moderation policies.
• The investigation marks a shift from private litigation to potential government enforcement, with broader implications for content moderation and free speech debates.