Is your freedom to use the Internet to express your political opinions about to change drastically? Depending on the actions of the Federal Election Commission, this possibility is starker than you think.
The FEC recently heard testimony on two proposals to require disclaimers on online political advertisements. (My employer, the Institute for Free Speech, was one such group.) These dueling options concern only paid ads that specifically endorse or oppose a candidate for office.
At the hearing, some urged the agency to adopt a flexible approach for both speakers and websites hosting political ads. Others supported requiring disclaimers even when a person shares promoted content organically.
Read Full Article »