Federal Judge Halts FTC Probe Into Media Matters Over Free Speech Concerns

On Friday, a federal judge issued an injunction blocking the Federal Trade Commission’s investigation into Media Matters, ruling that the probe infringed upon the liberal watchdog group's free speech rights. Media Matters had published reports critical of Elon Musk and his social media platform, X.

The FTC initiated its inquiry in May, examining allegations that Media Matters conspired with other advertising advocacy organizations to reduce advertising revenue for X. Earlier in 2023, Media Matters had reported that advertisements on the platform were appearing alongside antisemitic content.

Media Matters filed a lawsuit against the FTC, describing the investigation as a retaliatory campaign motivated by interests aligned with Elon Musk and the previous administration. U.S. District Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan of the District of Columbia agreed with this assessment, labeling the investigation a retaliatory act and effectively halting its progress. The FTC retains the option to appeal the decision.