Federal Trade Commission to regulat blogs

[MRasey]

This is going to affect anyone making money from blogs or websites.


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j6DZ0gpsCSwquntzof4FR4yfqYXwD98V7B880


M

[stldenise]

Interesting. I wonder how the FTC could possibly keep tabs on all of us. But disclosing that you've gotten a freebie is good journalism, so I don't mind.

I often wonder about the guys on my morning radio show who gush about advertisers and how they're putting in windows, fences, tree trimming, car service... They don't say that they're paying for the product themselves or not. Surely the FTC should monitor radio people first?

[Team 2012]

The idea of "conflict of interest" in a blog is an interesting one. Blogs aren't newspapers or licensed media or any thing quasi-public. They're personal opinions. Somebody sends me a mp3 player, I like it and write it up, whose business is it?

What will be really interesting is seeing if they even TRY to police this. Try to imagine them attempting to find out if a jillion nerds all over the world are getting non-tax-declared swag.

Absurd.

[MRasey]

There are some free speech issues here that concern me. A lot of what goes on blogs is the kind of stuff people say face-to-face, are they going to start policing verbal conversations then?

However, having watched people try to get me to sign up for writing gigs using their codes and pretending they aren't financially compensated, makes me think some disclosure is a good idea.

M

[CACTUSWENDY]

I guess I am from the old school. I don't think the gov. should be in anyone's private stuff. Bartering has been around for years and years. Yard sales. Swap meets. Blog sites. Lots of ways to 'make' money that is never declared, let alone objects that change hands. This very site would fall under that too. I don't think Mac would like that.

Part of the free enterprise system is there is always a way to make money/get your needs met if you look around.

The big brother thingy never has impressed me. Of course, this is only my two cents and I might be taxed for it too.

[JulieB]

It's not about declaring income or free speech. It's about trust.

If bloggers want to be treated like journalists, then they have to act like journalists. This means clearly separating ad content from editorial content and full disclosure on product reviews. That is what the FTC wants to see.

No, I don't think they'll have the resources to watch over the shoulder of every blogger. But, IMO, if you already do the above in your blog, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

[jwallace]

This sounds like a lot of governmental hot air to me...they'll enact some goofy set of rules that don't actually have any teeth or crumble when challenged in court, and that'll be the end of it. Somebody in the FTC is bucking for a promotion.

[jerseykat]

This sounds like a lot of governmental hot air to me...they'll enact some goofy set of rules that don't actually have any teeth or crumble when challenged in court, and that'll be the end of it. Somebody in the FTC is bucking for a promotion.

I have to agree with you here, j. This just seems too absurd to hold up anywhere.