Washington, DC | www.adc.org | March 1, 2024 – Earlier this week ADC met with senior officials from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to discuss concerns raised about the airing of an ad during the Super Bowl which was paid for by the government of the State of Israel. During the meeting the FCC officials acknowledged the importance of the concerns raised by ADC, and affirmed their commitment to address this matter seriously.
During the meeting it became clear to all parties that the regulations governing foreign-sponsored advertisements are vague. There are open questions about the FCC’s jurisdiction over this issue, given that the ad was aired over a streaming service, and not the broadcast telecast of the Super Bowl. At the moment the rule governing sponsorship identification currently only applies to broadcast television and radio.
Current readings of FCC regulations do not provide clarity on whether streaming services such as Paramount+ are governed by the disclosure rules for foreign government advertising. Additionally, there is no clarity from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on disclosures related to foreign government paid advertisements. ADC has reached out to the FTC for additional information on the matter. Despite this it is our position that the intent behind the FCC rules are clear: Broadcasts, especially those with content sponsored by foreign governments, must include clear disclaimers so viewers are aware of the source.
ADC National Executive Director Abed Ayoub said, “We appreciate the willingness of the FCC to meet and discuss this serious issue openly and in good faith. It is concerning that the rules and regulations around this important issue are not made clear by the federal government, especially at a time when most Americans are viewing their media through streaming services. Not disclosing that Israel is behind the broadcast is not just a violation of regulatory standards by CBS and the NFL, it is also a breach of public trust. We must not allow foreign governments to continue flooding Amercians with misinformation campaigns. Lawmakers and the federal government must act immediately to address this serious issue.”
Over 30,000 ADC members and supporters expressed their concern to the FCC after the ads ran on Super Bowl Sunday. ADC will continue engaging with the FCC to ensure that CBS is held accountable, and measures are taken to stop foreign propaganda from flooding American airwaves.
Your support to ADC is needed now more than ever. Consider making a contribution today so we can continue working on behalf of the community.