Slate Business What Next: TBD | The FTC’s Merger Shakedown
Jun 29, 2025
Kate Conger, a technology reporter for the New York Times and co-author of 'Character Limit', discusses the shifting landscape of advertising in the wake of Elon Musk’s Twitter acquisition. She dives into the FTC's new stance on merger regulations and how it impacts brand safety amidst rising hate speech. Conger examines the complexities of political maneuvering by the FTC and the declining trust of advertisers. The conversation also sheds light on the challenges brands face navigating partnerships in an increasingly polarized environment.
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Musk's Twitter Ad Revenue Collapse
- Elon Musk's early approach to advertisers led to a steep decline in Twitter's ad revenue.
- He disengaged from advertiser accountability groups and reduced content moderation, causing advertisers to pull back.
FTC Restricts Political Boycotts by Ad Agencies
- The FTC approved a major ad merger with conditions preventing the agencies from boycotting platforms based on content.
- This restricts ad agencies from advising clients to avoid platforms over political or controversial content.
FTC Chair's Stance on Ad Boycotts
- FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson views advertiser pullbacks as illegal boycotts harming free speech.
- He sees conservative online speech as censored and believes ad revenue is critical to preserving it.
