FTC to Regulate Free Speech on Blogs and Social Media Sites

Candidate Obama promised the most transparent administration EVAH! if elected. And just like every other promise made by Candidate Obama, that one has been proven to be a lie.

Which is why it pisses me off so much that Obama’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has decided to regulate free speech on blogs and demand that keeps tabs on blogger freebies, giveaways, and paid reviews/endorsements.

From Jeff Jarvis:

Insanity and inanity. And danger.

The regulations raise no end of questions. For example: How much do I have disclose? Before I say anything nice about anyone, do I need to list every advertiser I’ve ever had? Every possible business relationship? You think my disclosures are comical now, just wait.

And what about automated ads, such as those from Google? I have been writing nice things about my treatment at Sloan Kettering. This has caused ads to come up on my blog, via Google, from the hospital. Presuming someone clicked on them, I’ve made money from the hospital. Does that taint what I say or me if I don’t disclose the payment? That’s the level of absurdity this can reach.

The regulations are not aimed just as bloggers, of course, but at endorsements of all sorts, including from celebrities and experts. The FTC requires advertisers to continually reconfirm that endorsers are bona fide users of the endorsed product. Do we really believe that Tiger Woods drives a Buick? How will that be policed?

Obama’s FTC wants to fine me up to $16K for not disclosing my freebies.

I’ve received a few freebies — books mostly — in exchange for a review. I did disclose that I received the book for free. I didn’t need the government to tell me to do so.

This should come as no surprise after the Obama administration backed limits on free speech while at the UN:

The Obama administration has marked its first foray into the UN human rights establishment by backing calls for limits on freedom of expression. The newly-minted American policy was rolled out at the latest session of the UN Human Rights Council, which ended in Geneva on Friday. American diplomats were there for the first time as full Council members and intent on making friends.

President Obama chose to join the Council despite the fact that the Organization of the Islamic Conference holds the balance of power and human rights abusers are among its lead actors, including China, Cuba, and Saudi Arabia. Islamic states quickly interpreted the president’s penchant for “engagement” as meaning fundamental rights were now up for grabs. Few would have predicted, however, that the shift would begin with America’s most treasured freedom.