The Obama administration has undertaken a series of new moves aimed at further eroding citizen freedoms. Bloggers, beware: The Federal Trade Commission is drafting new rules that would extend its authority to encompass bloggers who promote products in exchange for compensation or giveaways. The FTC’s new oversight could be quite extensive, even covering the common marketing practice of affiliate links, as the Associated Press reports:
New guidelines, expected to be approved late this summer with possible modifications, would clarify that the agency can go after bloggers — as well as the companies that compensate them — for any false claims or failure to disclose conflicts of interest. It would be the first time the FTC tries to patrol systematically what bloggers say and do online. The common practice of posting a graphical ad or a link to an online retailer — and getting commissions for any sales from it — would be enough to trigger oversight.
In other words, if you use AdSense or any other means for potentially obtaining compensation to defray your blogging-related costs, you'll be fair game, as far as the FTC is concerned.
For those with a pilot's license, the Obama administration is enacting draconian new policies, requiring private pilots to reveal detailed personal information about their passengers and to seek government permission to leave the country, a first in American history.
The Department of Homeland Security further maintains that it is free to conduct random searches of civilian aircraft, with no need to bother with formalities such as obtaining a search warrant.
Complaints to Homeland Security higher ups about these “routine checks” were answered by spokeswoman Kelly Ivahnenko with a statement that said, and I accurately paraphrase, “we maintain we have this power and authority, you can expect we will continue to do it whenever and wherever we wish, and there is no requirement that we justify ourselves or explain our reasons.”
Ivahnenko?
Greetings, Comrade!
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