Three advertising agencies, including Dentsu, have reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission and others regarding allegations that they 'colluded to suspend advertising placements on X and other platforms.'

Dentsu, Publicis, and WPP, a major advertising agency group that was under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for allegedly violating antitrust laws by conspiring to suspend advertising on certain online platforms such as X, have reached a settlement with the FTC and eight US states.

FTC Takes Action to Restore Competition in the Digital Advertising Ecosystem | Federal Trade Commission

Exclusive | FTC in Settlement Talks With Ad Companies in Boycott Probe - WSJ
https://www.wsj.com/business/media/ftc-in-settlement-talks-with-ad-companies-in-boycott-probe-99f687e9

Big ad agencies settle US FTC probe into alleged boycott over political content | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/big-ad-agencies-settle-us-ftc-probe-into-alleged-boycott-over-political-content-2026-04-15/

Ad companies settle with FTC over 'brand safety' collusion claims - UPI.com
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2026/04/15/FTC-advertising-collusion/2111776295340/

FTC pushes ad agencies into dropping brand safety rules | The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/policy/912680/ftc-ad-agency-settlement-trust-safety

Ad Companies Settle With FTC Over Claims of Harm to Conservative Sites - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/15/technology/ftc-ad-companies-settlement.html

According to the FTC, major advertising agencies Dentsu, Publicis, and WPP have been working with competitors Omnicom and IPG since 2018 to set industry standards through industry associations that indicate the minimum level of content to avoid advertising. Furthermore, they allegedly colluded to impose standards that designate information designated by left-leaning media watchdogs as 'misinformation.' As a result, it is possible that organizations that disseminate information unfavorable to the left were not receiving advertising, making it difficult for them to generate revenue.

In reaching a settlement, both parties agreed not to restrict advertisers from purchasing ads for news and political/social commentary content. For five years following the settlement, advertising agencies will be required to submit annual compliance reports and appoint compliance inspectors.

FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson stated, 'The advertising agencies' scheme fundamentally undermined competition in the advertising market. Antitrust laws ensure a market free from 'economic boycotts' that distort fundamental competitive pressures that drive price reductions, higher product quality, and innovation.' He added that the agreement by the advertising agencies not only hindered competition but also discriminated against freedom of speech and thought, and that the settlement would 'bring competition back to the digital news ecosystem.'

According to the New York Times, a Dentsu spokesperson commented, 'We are committed to operating with transparency, integrity, and strict adherence to all applicable laws.' A WPP representative also stated, 'This settlement reflects our past and ongoing commitment to providing our clients with unbiased advice when placing advertisements.'

Furthermore, the settlement terms did not include any acknowledgment of wrongdoing, and the advertising agencies have reserved their right to refuse to acknowledge or deny any wrongdoing.

Incidentally, advertising agency Omnicom acquired rival IPG for $13.5 billion (approximately 2.14 trillion yen) in June 2025. In obtaining approval for the acquisition from the FTC, they accepted a condition very similar to this settlement: 'The merged company will not engage in collusion to direct or steer advertising spending towards or away from specific platforms based on political content.'