Texas AG Cracks Down On Advertising Firms Trying To Force Platforms Into Censorship

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated an investigation into a coalition of advertising firms accused of using boycotts to pressure platforms like X (formerly Twitter) into censoring user content. Paxton’s inquiry targets the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) and its affiliate, the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), which he believes may be in violation of Texas’s antitrust laws.

In a statement released on Thursday, Paxton expressed concern over the growing influence of advertising organizations like WFA, which controls a large portion of global ad spending. Paxton described their tactics as “un-American,” pointing to the Department of Justice’s failure under the Biden administration to enforce antitrust laws against these firms. He accused them of using their market dominance to suppress speech, particularly conservative viewpoints, by applying pressure on platforms to censor content.

WFA and GARM have been using their market power to influence platforms such as X, after Elon Musk’s purchase of the platform, which Musk promised would prioritize free speech. GARM weaponized its “Brand Safety Standards” to encourage advertisers to stop supporting platforms that allowed free speech or content deemed undesirable. This included targeting companies like Spotify, pressuring them to remove popular podcaster Joe Rogan from their platform, according to a report by the House Judiciary Committee.

Paxton’s investigation seeks to determine whether these actions by WFA and GARM violate the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act, which prohibits companies from colluding to harm competitors or manipulate markets. The Texas AG’s office is also investigating whether the Biden administration’s inaction has allowed this pressure campaign to continue unchecked.

Both X and Rumble have filed lawsuits against GARM, highlighting the increasing concern over the influence of large advertising firms in silencing opposing viewpoints. Paxton’s office has requested documentation related to these campaigns and is committed to holding these organizations accountable for any attempts to undermine free speech online.

Paxton’s investigation could have far-reaching implications for how advertising companies interact with social media platforms and how content moderation policies are shaped by corporate interests. It underscores the growing concerns about the role of powerful corporations in controlling the flow of information on the internet.