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The FTC’s ultimate aim is to anoint itself judge and jury over AI content — and silence dissent.
Free Press has accused the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of unconstitutionally overstepping its authority by proposing a policy statement that would regulate artificial intelligence outputs deemed 'ideologically motivated' as deceptive consumer products. They argue this misuses Section 5 of the FTC Act, which governs false advertising, to police speech.
The organization suggests that the FTC's proposed AI policy statement is not genuinely aimed at mitigating bias in technology but is rather a tool for the Trump administration's broader campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion. The ultimate goal, they contend, is for the agency to become the arbiter of truth and accuracy for AI-generated content, thereby silencing dissenting viewpoints.
The article highlights an alleged alliance between the FTC and certain tech companies, which it claims is enabling the administration's efforts to censor and control the information ecosystem. This collaboration is criticized for distorting consumer-protection enforcement and furthering political corruption, rather than providing responsible guidance for AI policy.
While acknowledging that AI algorithms can produce discriminatory results, Free Press argues that the FTC is selectively addressing these biases to suppress specific viewpoints and promote others. They view this as a clear instance of government overreach, infringing on the First Amendment by attempting to control speech generated by private companies through consumer-protection laws.
Free Press urges the FTC to withdraw its proposed AI policy statement entirely. They contend that the agency should cease all efforts to silence views it disagrees with, emphasizing that such actions represent a dangerous precedent of governmental interference in free speech under the guise of AI regulation.