Coalition Calls on FCC To Crack Down on Product Placement

A coalition of 50 groups including Consumers Union and the American Academy of Pediatrics has called on the Federal Communications Commission to crack down on product placement. The groups said the FCC needs to act on its notice of inquiry into how its sponsorship identification rules apply, and should apply, to embedded advertising. The FCC has not taken any action and the reply comment period on the proceeding closed last November. The coalition argues that current broadcast sponsorship ID are ineffective. The groups point out that the Federal Trade Commission supports disclosure in online embedded advertising practices, and that the FCC should exercise its authority to amend or extend the rules to protect both kids and adults from what they called "stealth and misleading commercial propaganda."