Complaint filed today with the Federal Trade Commission:
To the Division of Enforcement:
MoveOn.org, Inc. and Common Cause hereby petition the Commission to initiate a complaint, pursuant to section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (the “Act”), 15 U.S.C. §45, against Fox News Network, LLC, (“Fox News”), for deceptive practices in the advertising and marketing of cable television programming. Specifically, Fox News has advertised and promoted the Fox News Channel (“FNC”) using the slogan and mark
“Fair and Balanced”, but FNC’s news and commentary programming is not remotely “fair” or “balanced.” To the contrary, that programming is deliberately and consistently distorted and twisted to promote the Republican Party of the U.S. and an extreme right-wing viewpoint.
The Commission should institute an enforcement proceeding against Fox News; order Fox News to cease and desist from using the slogan and mark “Fair and Balanced;” and take such other action as may be appropriate to remedy the injury to consumers from Fox News’ deceptive practices...
