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Ken Bone May Have Violated FTC Guidelines With Uber Tweet (vice.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from VICE News: In a lot of ways, unlikely presidential debate star Ken Bone is a marketer's dream. He is undecided on his political leanings (for now), inoffensive, instantly recognizable, and affable on TV and social media. So it makes sense that Uber asked him to send a promotional tweet for this week's launch of Uber's black car uberSELECT service in St. Louis, site of the debate Sunday night that launched him to fame. But there's one problem: Bone may have violated Federal Trade Commission guidelines for advertising on social media by not marking his tweet as an ad or mentioning that Uber paid him for making the tweet. "[The tweet] needs to disclose that he was compensated," said lawyer Rick Kurnit, of Frankfurt, Kurnit, Klein + Salz PC. "He and Uber are in violation of FTC guidelines, because Uber is also responsible for what their influencers do." The guidelines that Kurnit is referencing are pretty straightforward, and the FTC offers specific advice for how to craft sponsored posts on Twitter. "The FTC isn't mandating the specific wording of disclosures," an FTC guidelines FAQ states. "However the words 'Sponsored' and 'Promotion' use only 9 characters. 'Paid ad' only uses 7 characters. Starting a tweet with 'Ad:' or '#ad' -- which takes only 3 characters -- would likely be effective." Kurnit added that while the FTC "doesn't like" using simple hashtags for disclosures, he agrees that it might have sufficed. When VICE News initially reached out to Uber asking whether Bone was paid for the tweet, a spokesperson said the company is "providing him with Uber credit for his role in the launch." And although Bone and Uber wouldn't be fined for violating the FTC Act (Section 5 of which prohibits "deceptive advertising"), the guidelines say that "law enforcement actions can result in orders requiring the defendants in the case to give up money they received from their violations."
Who caresssss?!?!? Is this really what's important in this election?
Celebrities get paid ALL THE FUCKING TIME to post shit on Twitter and Instagram and there's never any mention of "this ad was paid for by...". Seriously, go to look at one of the Kardashian's Twitters or Instagrams. And in case you might be thinking it's all coincidence, I used to do IT work for a company that was paid to get celebs to do that shit.
He didn't know so he can't be held responsible. Easy enough.
That's politics for you, a nice guy spends a few minutes asking a sensible question, the next thing we know there's a scandal.
This is total bullsh*t. How is this "deceptive?" And last I looked, I don't see most ads saying that they're ads. Slashdot Op Deals at the bottom of the page has ads for 6 items, none of them marked as ads. Same with ads on TV, the radio, and plenty of other web sites. Ads are obvious - even the slashvertisements.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
More like KEN BONED amiright?!!
We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
I justed found out there's an election. Did I miss anything good?
We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
in the election at this stage means you must have the political and social insight of a (very vertical) fence post.
Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
I never tweeted that. Anyone who says I did is wrong!! and a complete liar.
There are several candidates I want to vote against... I'm not surprised some people have not identified a candidate they want to vote FOR.
Seriously. A perfect example of how average individuals get fscked while the rich can do what they want. Every other fucking tweet/instagram/facebook post by a celeb is a commercial endorsement of some sort, I don't see the FTC making a fuss - until it's a (well-dressed) average American - THEN it's a problem.
Lets just say I would vote for the fucking clown in the sweater.
Who is this guy and why should I care about anything to do with him?
I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
Bill Cosby?
We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
If it wasn't obvious to you, you're the perfect consume/sucker.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
c'mon leave the guy alone. (1) he is new to this, last week he had less than 10 followers (2) it's not that bad, really (3) how the heck isn't it obvious it is an ad from the tweet
Never antropomorphize computers, they do not like that
This is laughable. He can say whatever the fuck he wants. Any celebrity who is targeted by the FTC should sue. There is no possible exemption from the first amendment due to "reader stupidity". He didn't threaten anyone, incite violence, or do anything a reasonable person would see as so dangerous to society that his first amendment rights should be infringed. What is the claim, fraud? Good luck. What agreement does he have with any person to give impartial reviews, advice, or commentary on twitter?
FTC has no jurisdiction and he should tell them to suck his fat, lumpy cock.
Govt says I can't say something? There's an amendment for that.
While many of Barbara's posts are factually incorrect and/or just plain moronic, it you go look at the actual tweet, yes, this one was a completely obvious promotion.
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Comment removed based on user account deletion
OK, ,I admit that his weird popularity is just one of those strange, unpredictable things that happens. I don't think it was part of any great plan that went any further than trying to maximize his chance of getting allowed to ask a question on TV. But why is nobody questioning Bone's claim that he's still somehow "undecided"? I mean, I guess it's possible, but he's probably just about the only person who is. And exactly how much more info does he need to make up his mind? At this point everybody has not only made up their mind but they're hardening their positions and no more future revelations of misconduct on either side are likely to get people to change their vote. I honestly don't know a single person who has told me that they don't know who they are going to vote for. I know a lot of people who are really unhappy with who they are going to vote for, but I don't know anybody who still can't come to a decision about it. And yes, these FCC "guidelines" are pure crap.
He's only not "carrying on a business" if your local TV station isn't doing so. He accepted compensation in exchange for advertising, and will not receive a W-2 for it. What else do you call that?
when the candidates use music from artists that do not agree (and without permission) with them at rallies, why there is no fine for using the music without authorization. When a mere mortal just downloads a song for personal use it can cost 250K. So if 1000 people are at a rally, shouldn't the fine be 250 million? And its not like the candidates don't know, as it comes up all the time, so ignorance is not an excuse.
I think Ken now deserves an answer from the candidates to this follow-up question, "what do you think of this fucked up situation right here?"
He didn't violate the guidelines. The guidelines don't specify how you have to indicate that it's an ad, you just have to indicate somehow. And he did. The link in the tweet goes to an ad that mentions him by name. The tweet is clearly part of that same campaign.