FTC Plans to Regulate Blogger Freebies — Meanwhile, financial scams and sketchy phoneco practices go unnoticed. Hm. There is something fishy about this.
According to a report by the Associated Press, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is considering to monitor blogs for undisclosed sponsored blog posts. According to the FTC, bloggers who don’t disclose that they received freebies once these new rules go into effect could become the target on an FTC investigation. These new guidelines, possibly with modifications, will most likely go into effect later this summer, and would mark the first time that the FTC tries to patrol the blogosphere.
As Andy Beal rightly points out, “the only bloggers that need to be wary of any new FTC guidelines are the ones that have brought this on us all.” The FTC isn’t likely to care about the blogger who used a coupon to get the free hamburger he/she blogged about. But there is a whole subculture of bloggers who make a living of undisclosed freebies and “sponsored conversations.” According to CNet’s Caroline McCarthy, however, these rules could even extend to undisclosed affiliate links. Under the new guidelines, bloggers would have to disclose if they are being compensated and, if they don’t, the FTC could order them to pay restitution to their readers.
Pay restitution to their readers? Huh?
Found by Aric Mackey.
