Media Matters Files Lawsuit Challenging FTC's Advertising Probe

Media Matters, a progressive advocacy group, initiated a lawsuit against the Federal Trade Commission, alleging that the agency is conducting a retaliatory campaign influenced by the previous administration and prominent tech figures.

The FTC began probing Media Matters last month to determine if the organization unlawfully coordinated with other advertising advocacy groups to restrict revenue streams from X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, as well as other conservative-leaning websites. In 2023, Media Matters had reported that advertisements on X were displayed alongside antisemitic content.

According to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., Media Matters accuses the FTC of leveraging expansive governmental authority to intimidate and silence the group for exposing uncomfortable truths. The complaint asserts that the agency’s actions infringe upon the organization’s free speech rights and requests an immediate judicial halt to the investigation.

The legal filing further attributes disruptions in fundraising and staff reductions at Media Matters to pressures exerted by Elon Musk, Republican state attorneys general, and the former administration. It also notes that other advocacy coalitions have distanced themselves from Media Matters out of fear of possible retaliation. This environment has led the group to self-censor, limiting its coverage of X, Elon Musk, and the FTC.

Representatives for both the FTC and X have not responded to requests for comment.

Andrew Ferguson, the FTC chairman appointed during the previous administration, has characterized advertiser boycotts as a form of censorship that threatens the financial viability of important online forums for public discourse.

This FTC inquiry is part of a broader pattern of actions targeting entities associated with left-leaning political infrastructure, including notable law firms and fundraising platforms.