A significant committee in Congress has issued a letter to numerous leading corporations in the United States, demanding clarification regarding their involvement in an advertising coalition that Republicans allege is attempting to suppress conservative voices in media and news.
“The Committee on the Judiciary is overseeing the sufficiency and enforcement of U.S. antitrust laws,” the Republican-controlled House Judiciary Committee wrote to Adidas, among over 40 companies contacted, seeking information about collusion issues.
“Through its oversight, the Committee has discovered that collusive actions are taking place within the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), of which your company is a member. In particular, evidence has been found regarding coordinated actions by GARM and its member companies, such as boycotts of disfavored social media platforms, podcasts, and news organizations.”
In addition to Adidas, the letter was sent to various other firms, including American Express, Bayer, BP, Carhartt, Chanel, CVS, and General Motors, requesting them to retain documents related to their association with GARM.
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Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. (Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
GARM describes itself on its website as a “cross-industry initiative established in 2019 by the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) to aid the industry in addressing the challenges of illegal or harmful content on digital media platforms and its monetization through advertising.”
The website further states that GARM is “apolitical” and “voluntary.”
Republicans are skeptical and assert in their correspondence to the corporations that GARM “has strayed far from its original purpose and has collectively employed its substantial market power to demonetize voices and perspectives they oppose.”
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Activist Rob Rakowitz is the head of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media. (Getty Images)
The committee previously released a detailed report outlining how it believes “large corporations, advertising agencies, and industry groups engaged in boycotts and other coordinated actions to demonetize platforms, podcasts, news outlets, and various content deemed unfavorable by GARM and its members.”
The committee stated, “For an organization that depends on speech and persuasion in advertising, GARM seems to possess anti-democratic views regarding fundamental American freedoms. GARM’s leader and co-founder, Rob Rakowitz, has expressed frustration with what he calls an ‘extreme global interpretation of the US Constitution’ while critiquing the application of “‘principles for governance’ as literal law from 230 years ago (created by exclusively white men).” With this perspective, GARM promoted what it described as ‘uncommon collaboration’ to “rise above individual commercial interests.”
The report alleges that GARM facilitated advertising crackdowns on figures such as Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, Spotify, political candidates, and news outlets, including Fox News, The Daily Wire, and Breitbart News.
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The US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, May 16, 2024. (llison Robbert/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Musk has suggested considering legal action against GARM, referring to it as an “advertising boycott racket.”
Fox News Digital reached out to GARM for feedback but did not receive an immediate reply.
A World Federation of Advertisers spokesperson stated to the New York Post that the Republican accusations were “unfounded.”
“GARM does not engage in operational steps related to monetization eligibility, content ratings, platform assessments, or media investment decisions,” the statement clarified.
