WPP, Publicis Groupe, and Dentsu reached a settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and a coalition of states. The agreement resolves allegations that the firms colluded on brand safety policies to demonetize publishers with specific political viewpoints.
The agencies allegedly used trade associations to create a common Brand Safety Floor to target perceived misinformation. This coordination restricted advertising revenue for various publishers, particularly conservative news outlets.
A proposed court order prohibits the companies from coordinating on brand safety standards or restricting ads based on ideological criteria. Individual advertisers retain the right to choose their own ad placements independently.