Federal Judge Blocks FTC Probe Into Media Matters, Citing Serious First Amendment Concerns
A U.S. federal judge has halted the Federal Trade Commission’s investigation into Media Matters over its reporting on advertising placements near hateful content on X (formerly Twitter). Judge Amit Mehta ruled that the FTC’s demand for internal communications was overly broad and could chill press freedom. He concluded that the agency’s actions could be perceived as retaliatory against protected journalistic activity.
This ruling underscores the ongoing tension between regulatory oversight and press freedom in the digital age.
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