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A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction blocking the Federal Trade Commission\u2019s investigation into left-leaning advocacy group Media Matters.<\/p>\n
Back in 2023, Media Matters published research showing ads from major companies had appeared alongside antisemitic and other offensive content on Elon Musk-owned X. When major advertisers subsequently pulled back from the platform, X sued Media Matters<\/a>. It also sued advertisers and advertiser groups<\/a> over what it claimed was a \u201csystematic illegal boycott.\u201d<\/p>\n After Musk\u2019s then-ally Donald Trump took office again in January, the FTC also began an investigation into whether Media Matters had illegally colluded with advertisers<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Friday, however, Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan sided with Media Matters and blocked the FTC\u2019s investigation. In her decision<\/a>, Sooknanan (a district court judge for the District of Columbia appointed by Joe Biden) wrote that the Media Matters article represented \u201cquintessential First Amendment activity\u201d and the FTC\u2019s \u201cexpansive\u201d investigative demands appeared to be \u201ca retaliatory act.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt should alarm all Americans when the Government retaliates against individuals or organizations for engaging in constitutionally protected public debate,\u201d she wrote. \u201cAnd that alarm should ring even louder when the Government retaliates against those engaged in newsgathering and reporting.\u201d<\/p>\n Sooknanan noted that before his appointment as the current FTC chair, Andrew Ferguson had appeared on Steve Bannon\u2019s podcast and called for the FTC to investigate progressive groups criticizing online disinformation, and that he subsequently \u201cbrought on several senior staffers at the FTC who previously made public comments about Media Matters.\u201d<\/p>\n The FTC did not immediately respond to a TechCrunch email asking whether it intends to appeal.<\/p>\n Techcrunch event<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSan Francisco<\/span> Regardless of the legal outcome, X\u2019s lawsuits have already had a significant effect on the targeted organizations, with Media Matters cutting staff (one of the laid off researchers is now running for Congress<\/a>), while the World Federation of Advertisers shut down its brand safety program and reportedly complained of drained finances<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sooknanan said the FTC investigation has also had its \u201cintended effect,\u201d prompting Media Matters to decide \u201cagainst pursuing certain stories about the FTC, Chairman Ferguson, and Mr. Musk.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 27-29, 2025<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n