In yet more news of government insanity ... Under the guise of "protecting" us gullible American consumers from the reviews, recommendations, and advice of "amateurs," the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is planning to commandeer the blogosphere!
Of course we all know better ... considering the federal government's constant maneuvering to control political speech via Fairness Doctrine, localism, and whatever else they dream up ... this move represents the vampire's first foot in the door, and we all know what happens next, don't we? Not only can the vampire come and go as he pleases, but he's going to suck your blood dry too.
Competition in the arena of thought is the mortal enemy of our State Leviathan. Alternative free media like blogs, means more opinion from outside the State/Corporate Media Establishment is available. This makes it increasingly more difficult for them to continue their lies. Add to it the networking and community building of the blogosphere, and Twitter's rapid spontaneity ... and you realize the State has a serious problem!
If they can't control the media, it becomes harder for the State to protect their favored industries, or pass Rube Goldberg regulatory schemes, spending bills they don't read, and squash investigation of the crimes they've committed. Make no mistake about this, the federal government wants to control your speech!
FTC plans to monitor blogs for claims, payments (emphasis added):
New guidelines, expected to be approved late this summer with possible modifications, would clarify that the agency can go after bloggers - as well as the companies that compensate them - for any false claims or failure to disclose conflicts of interest.
It would be the first time the FTC tries to patrol systematically what bloggers say and do online. The common practice of posting a graphical ad or a link to an online retailer - and getting commissions for any sales from it - would be enough to trigger oversight.
The guidelines also would bring uniformity to a community that has shunned that.
As blogging rises in importance and sophistication, it has taken on characteristics of community journalism - but without consensus on the types of ethical practices typically found in traditional media.
Journalists who work for newspapers and broadcasters are held accountable by their employers, and they generally cannot receive payments from marketers and must return free products after they finish reviewing them.
The blogosphere is quite different.
"Rules are set by the individuals who create the blog," said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet and American Life Project. "Some people will accept payments and free gifts, and some people won't. There's no established norm yet."
Bloggers complain that with FTC oversight, they'd be too worried about innocent posts getting them in trouble, and they say they might simply quit or post less frequently.
Existing FTC rules already ban deceptive and unfair business practices. The proposed guidelines aim to clarify the law and for the first time specifically include bloggers, defined loosely as anyone writing a personal journal online.
"It's sort of a recognition that word-of-mouth marketing in whatever form, whether electronic or not, is a significant part of the marketing strategy of modern companies," Cleland said. "Because it's new, I think it is imperative that we provide some kind of guidance."
If the guidelines are approved, bloggers would have to back up claims and disclose if they're being compensated - the FTC doesn't currently plan to specify how. The FTC could order violators to stop and pay restitution to customers, and it could ask the Justice Department to sue for civil penalties.
Any type of blog could be scrutinized, not just ones that specialize in reviews.
So parents keeping blogs to update family members on their child's first steps technically would fall under the FTC guidelines, though they likely would have little to worry about unless they accept payments or free products and write about them.
But they would need to think twice if, for instance, they praise parenting books they've just read and include links to buy them at a retailer like Amazon.com Inc.
You can read the whole FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 16 C.F.R. Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising here.
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