NewsGuard & Censorship Update
May 2026 Report
Inside This Edition:
- NewsGuard’s Ties to Southern Poverty Law Center Draw Scrutiny
- Ad Giants Drop “Brand Safety” Standards, FTC Alleges Collusion
- New Report Shows Wikipedia Editors Buried SPLC Indictment Amid Bias Concerns
- Nexstar-TEGNA Merger Faces Backlash from Free Speech Advocates
- NewsGuard & Censorship Media Roundup
OVERVIEW
This month brought major developments in the fight against viewpoint discrimination, and the use of “misinformation” and “brand safety” tools to shape public discourse.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reached settlements with major advertising firms over coordinated “brand safety” standards allegedly used to stop “misinformation.” The FTC alleged firms like NewsGuard and the Global Disinformation Index (GDI) used this misinformation designation as a means to promote the demonetization of certain political viewpoints.
NewsGuard is also under scrutiny for its ties to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SLPC), which is under federal indictment. Meanwhile, a Media Research Center report found Wikipedia editors minimized coverage of the SPLC indictment, underscoring growing criticism over the site’s bias against conservative media outlets.
Finally, the proposed Nexstar-TEGNA merger continues to face significant backlash from free speech advocates who warn it would further concentrate control over local television news and reduce viewpoint diversity nationwide.
Read on for more and visit IMCAmerica.com for further resources and membership information.
GOVERNMENT
NewsGuard’s Ties to Southern Poverty Law Center Draw Scrutiny
NewsGuard has faced renewed scrutiny over reported ties to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), after investigative reporter Paul Sperry highlighted claims that NewsGuard has relied on SPLC materials and designations in evaluating media outlets and organizations. Critics argue the relationship raises concerns about ideological bias because the SPLC has long been accused of labeling mainstream conservative and religious groups as “extremist.”
The issue comes as the SPLC itself faces significant legal and regulatory scrutiny. In April, the U.S. Department of Justice announced an 11-count federal indictment alleging wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and false statements tied to the SPLC’s use of paid informants embedded within extremist groups. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has also launched a separate civil investigation into the organization..
Critics say the developments raise broader questions about whether media-rating and “misinformation” firms such as NewsGuard should rely on organizations facing active investigations and longstanding accusations of ideological targeting when assessing the credibility of news outlets.
Ad Giants Drop “Brand Safety” Standards, FTC Alleges Collusion
The FTC has reached a proposed settlement with major advertising holding companies—including Dentsu, Publicis Groupe, and WPP—requiring them to discontinue coordinated “brand safety” standards that regulators say distorted the advertising marketplace and suppressed certain viewpoints.
According to the complaint, the agencies allegedly colluded to impose uniform brand-safety rules that steered advertising dollars away from platforms deemed to contain “misinformation,” effectively creating exclusion lists that disadvantaged certain publishers. Notably, the FTC cites the firms’ reliance on data from entities such as NewsGuard and GDI to “promote the demonetization of disfavored political viewpoints.” The FTC further argues that this coordination undermined competition in the ad-buying marketplace.
“The ad agencies’ brand-safety conspiracy turned competition in the market for ad-buying services on its head,” FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said in a statement, adding, “The antitrust laws guarantee participation in a market free from conduct, such as economic boycotts, that distort the fundamental competitive pressures that promote lower prices, higher quality products and increased innovation.”
Subsequently, the FTC has withdrawn its demand for information from NewsGuard, citing the recent settlements. In light of those agreements, the FTC indicated the information request is no longer necessary and that NewsGuard’s legal challenge to the demand is now effectively moot.
New Report Shows Wikipedia Editors Buried SPLC Indictment Amid Bias Concerns
A new report from the Media Research Center (MRC) found that Wikipedia editors downplayed and buried information related to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) recent federal indictment. According to the report, editors pushed references to the SPLC indictment deep into the organization’s Wikipedia page while allegedly giving far more prominent placement to investigations involving conservative individuals and organizations.
The report points to the SPLC’s April federal indictment on 11 counts tied to alleged wire fraud, false statements, and money laundering conspiracy stemming from the organization’s use of paid informants within extremist groups. MRC researchers found that Wikipedia editors removed or minimized references to the case across multiple pages, including content related to the Unite the Right rally.
The controversy highlights broader concerns about ideological bias on Wikipedia, particularly given the platform’s outsized influence on Google search results and AI-generated summaries.
Nexstar-TEGNA Merger Faces Backlash from Free Speech Advocates
The proposed merger between Nexstar Media Group and TEGNA continues to face mounting legal and political scrutiny despite receiving approval from the Federal Communications Commission in March.
The FCC approved the $6.2 billion deal by granting Nexstar waivers to exceed longstanding national and local television ownership caps, arguing broadcasters need greater scale to compete with streaming platforms and national media giants. However, the merger would create unprecedented concentration in local television news, with the combined company potentially reaching roughly 80% of U.S. television households.
Opposition has come from a broad coalition that includes DirecTV, labor groups, state attorneys general, and conservative organizations concerned about media consolidation and rising retransmission fees. Critics argue the merger would reduce viewpoint diversity, increase consumer cable bills, and give Nexstar outsized leverage in both local news and carriage negotiations.
The merger also remains tied up in court. Multiple antitrust lawsuits were filed shortly after FCC approval, including actions from several states and DirecTV. A federal judge subsequently issued orders temporarily halting further integration of the two companies while litigation proceeds, citing concerns the merger is “likely to violate antitrust laws.”
MEDIA
Nexstar Posts Record Results, on Target for $2 Billion in Profts
By Newsmax Wires, 5/11/26
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/nexstar-tegna-merger/2026/05/11/id/1255900/
WIKI-BIAS EXPOSED: Wikipedia Editors Scramble to Bury SPLC Indictment
MRC by Tom Olohan, 5/7/26
https://mrcfreespeechamerica.org/blogs/free-speech/tom-olohan/2026/05/07/wiki-bias-exposed-wikipedia-editors-scramble-bury-splc
FTC Withdraws Demand for Information from NewsGuard
MediaPost by Wendy Davis, 4/17/26
Special Report: 83% Left v. 15% Right – Yahoo News Most Bipolar Big Four News App in March
MRC by Heather Moon, Michael Morris, 4/16/26
FTC: Dentsu, Publicis, WPP to Discontinue ‘Brand Safety’ Standards
MediaPost by Wendy Davis, Joe Mandese, 4/15/26
https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/414325/ftc-dentsu-publicis-wpp-to-discontinue-brand-s.html
State Dept Settles with Conservative Media Outlets that Sued for Censorship During Biden Admin: ‘Never Again’
NY Post by Josh Christenson, 4/10/26
https://nypost.com/2026/04/10/us-news/state-dept-settles-with-conservative-media-outlets-that-sued-for-censorship-of-covid-election-posts/
