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5h ago

Judge Blocks FTC Investigation Into Media Matters on Free Speech Grounds

A federal judge ruled the commission’s civil investigative demand likely chilled protected reporting, pausing the probe pending appeal

The Federal Trade Commission headquarters in Washington, DC, on March 19.
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Overview

  • U.S. District Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan granted a preliminary injunction on August 15 halting the FTC’s civil investigative demand targeting Media Matters.
  • The ruling cited FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson’s public remarks, the timing of the demand and evidence of pretext as signs of retaliatory animus violating the First Amendment.
  • The commission had sought correspondence between Media Matters and advertising groups, including the World Federation of Advertisers’ Global Alliance for Responsible Media, in its inquiry into a 2023 advertiser boycott of X.
  • Media Matters sued the FTC in June, accusing the agency of launching an unlawful campaign of retribution after it published research linking brand ads to extremist content on Elon Musk’s platform.
  • Despite the injunction, separate litigation with X and potential FTC appeals continue, and Media Matters remains under financial strain from mounting legal costs.