AI smackdown: How a new FTC ruling just protected the free press

I couldn’t be more delighted to be the bearer of such bad news. If you’re a digital media company whose revenue comes from publishing AI-generated articles and fake product reviews which pose as journalism, then Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina “The Lion” Khan just landed on your wallet with a WWE-style People’s Elbow-drop from the top-rope. It’s been almost a month since the new FTC rule was officially approved, but if you still can’t smell what The Rock-a-Khan is cooking, here’s the slo-mo replay: Every time one of these fake-news jerks gets caught posting phony AI-generated “best lists,” Uncle Sam is free to slap them with a bill for $51,744 per violation. Per the ruling, that means it’s a violation for “anyone to use an unfounded or groundless legal threat, a physical threat, intimidation, or a public false accusation in response to a consumer review… to prevent a review or any portion thereof from being written or created, or cause a review or any portion thereof to be removed, whether or not that review or a portion thereof is replaced with other content.” Finally, in case any slimeballs out there forgot, the FTC reminded them that independent consumer advocacy journalism isn’t for sale. It bars “the creation or operation of websites, organizations or entities that purportedly provide independent reviews or opinions of products or services but are, in fact, created and controlled by the companies offering the products or services.” In an earlier statement, FTC Consumer Protection Bureau head Sam Levine, said the new rule “should help level the playing field for honest companies.” We need your help to stay independent Subscribe today to support Salon's progressive journalism “We're using all available means to attack deceptive advertising in the digital age,” he said.