FTC: No, Agencies Can't Ask Staffers to Casually Tweet Nice Things About Clients

As brands push their messages through social media platforms like Twitter, the Federal Trade Commission is reminding marketers they need to disclose any bias on their promotional materials -- even if they only have 140 characters to do so. The FTC and Deutsch L.A. reached a settlement regarding the agency reportedly using social media to promote a client's work without disclosing its bias. The implications of the court case -- that even statements made on personal social media accounts need to be transparent if there may be any brand bias -- will resonate throughout the industry.