FTC Chair Alleges Gmail Practices Partisan Filtering, Investigating Potential FTC Act Violations

FTC Chair Alleges Gmail Practices Partisan Filtering

FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson has stated that Gmail may be subject to a federal investigation regarding allegations it suppresses messages sent by Republican users. According to Ferguson, reports indicate a pattern where Gmail's spam filters frequently block Republican emails while allowing similar emails from Democrats to reach consumers without hindrance.

Concerns Raised About Political Bias

Ferguson outlined his concerns in correspondence with Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google's parent company, Alphabet. He warned that political filtering might violate the FTC Act's prohibitions on unfair and deceptive trade practices. The chair emphasized that consumers should have equal access to communications from political candidates, regardless of their political affiliation.

• Gmail's spam filters allegedly unfairly target Republican messages.
• Inconsistent filtering practices could trigger governmental scrutiny.
• Consumer rights to political correspondence must be preserved.

Previous Legal Challenges

In prior court challenges, a judge dismissed claims made by the Republican National Committee (RNC) against Google, stating that the RNC's email practices could contribute to high spam rates. The Federal Election Commission similarly rejected a complaint from the RNC alleging Google's actions constituted illegal contributions to Democrats.