US Ad Tech Antitrust Escalates: FTC/States Sue Havas Media; Iowa AG Wins Against Big Six Ad Agencies for Collusion
Key Questions
What is the FTC and states' lawsuit against Havas Media about?
The suit alleges collusion among ad agencies to limit placements based on brand safety standards. Nebraska has joined the coalition of states in the action.
What was the outcome of the Iowa AG's case against ad agencies?
Iowa AG Brenna Bird won an antitrust case against the Big Six ad agencies for colluding to block ads on 'misinformation' sites. The ruling signals that ideological ad boycotts can violate antitrust law.
What broader implications do these ad tech cases have?
The cases indicate heightened scrutiny of programmatic buying and brand safety frameworks. They could affect how ad tech platforms and advertisers coordinate placements.
Nebraska AG joins FTC and states suing Havas Media over brand safety collusion. Iowa AG wins antitrust case against Big Six ad agencies for colluding to block ads on 'misinformation' sites. These cases signal heightened scrutiny of programmatic buying practices and brand safety frameworks. New: AICOA (American Innovation and Choice Online Act) reintroduced by Grassley and Klobuchar, targeting Big Tech self-preferencing, data misuse, and ranking manipulation—broad industry support from Mozilla, Y Combinator, Fox Corp.