AD FIRMS SETTLE WITH TRUMP FTC OVER BOYCOTT CLAIMS

The settlements require ad firms to modify their brand-safety practices, which advertisers typically use to avoid placing ads alongside controversial content. The FTC argued these standards functioned as coordinated boycotts against conservative media platforms. X owner Elon Musk has publicly criticized advertising boycotts following his acquisition of Twitter, claiming major brands unfairly reduced spending on the platform. Breitbart, a right-leaning news outlet, has similarly attributed reduced ad revenue to industry practices. The agency's action reflects the Trump administration's focus on alleged anti-conservative bias in tech and media. Brand-safety tools have been standard industry practice for years, allowing advertisers to specify content categories where their ads should or should not appear. The settlements do not constitute admissions of wrongdoing but require companies to adjust their policies going forward.