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FTC Faces First Amendment Challenge from NewsGuard Over Merger Review

2/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) faces a First Amendment challenge from NewsGuard over merger-review actions.
NewsGuard alleges the FTC punished it for low credibility ratings, including Newsmax, during the Omnicom Group and Interpublic Group merger review.
The lawsuit says the FTC's investigative demand sought NewsGuard's documents, including reporters' notes and financial records.
A draft FTC order would bar the merged company from using services evaluating news truthfulness, which NewsGuard provides.

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Story summary

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) faces a First Amendment challenge from NewsGuard over merger-review actions.
NewsGuard alleges the FTC punished it for low credibility ratings, including Newsmax, during the Omnicom Group and Interpublic Group merger review.
The lawsuit says the FTC's investigative demand sought NewsGuard's documents, including reporters' notes and financial records.
A draft FTC order would bar the merged company from using services evaluating news truthfulness, which NewsGuard provides.