False Advertising In The United States

False Advertising

One of the biggest problems in modern media is misleading and false advertisements. This is when companies, businesses, or people publicly lie, make up facts, or withhold information about a product or service that is available to consumers. This can be on television, social media, newspapers, billboards, the internet, and any other way people advertise. These lies can be harmful to consumers’ health and their financial situations. These companies have a responsibility to consumers to tell them the truth about what they are getting. If there is no evidence to back up their claims, then they are not being honest. Too many companies are getting away with deceptive advertisements in the U.S. The laws in place against false

These people claim that Truth-in-Advertising Laws are a form of government censorship. Mickey Huff quotes the United Nations in his article on Freedom of Expression, “ Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers” (United Nations 1948). Huff uses this quote to support his interpretation of the Joint Declaration, which is a declaration that is against the censorship and control of information, and instead encourages the open and unrestricted public debate of information as a better way to counter false information (Huff). Brooks Jackson of FactCheck.org, an experienced journalist who has covered politics since 1970, stated in his article about false advertisements that, when given enough uncensored information, the public should be able to make their own decisions as to what is in their own best interest (Jackson). Both of these articles argue that instead of censoring false advertisements and information, there should be more information and debates, in order to let the public make up their own

Jackson gives good examples and logical information regarding his stance. He discusses the First Amendment and states that candidates for American public office, more than anyone else, should receive the freedom of speech granted to American citizens. Jackson also explains why it is important that the First Amendment make enacting laws about false advertisements so difficult. He then goes on to say that only when voters have access to “enough uncensored information,” can they accurately decide who is best for office (Jackson). Huff fights for open communication instead of censorship, while Jackson argues for more uncensored information. When combined, they have the approach that there should be more uncensored information available to discuss instead of