FTC: Havas Settles Political Bias 'Unlawful Collusion' Allegations 06/30/2026

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said Havas Media Group USA LLC has agreed to a proposed FTC order to resolve what it called "unlawful collusion that led to the demonetization of disfavored political viewpoints."

The resolution follows similar agreements announced in April with Dentsu, Publicis and WPP, as well as a previous consent decree with Omnicom and Interpublic as part of their merger agreement, marking six agency holding companies that have capitulated to the FTC's demands to discontinue "brand safety" standards across the digital ad industry that the commission asserted were politically biased.

The FTC did not disclose details of Havas' settlement agreement, but in a statement, Havas said it reached an agreement with the FTC following similar agreements across the industry.

"Havas was not engaged in the conduct at issue," the statement reads, adding, "Accordingly, the FTC's order requires only that Havas not engage in such conduct in the future. The FTC also agreed that no monitor was needed in this case."

In its April settlement with the other holding companies, the FTC asserted Havas had previously agreed “to explore expanded guidance to foster commonality in categorization of individual pieces of content" in September 2020.

In today's statement, the FTC said Havas' brand safety standards -- along with those of the rest of the "Big 6" agency holding companies -- violated antitrust laws "by insulating the agencies from competition."

Havas is now the final member of the Big 6 subject to an order resolving allegations of unlawful collusion.

If approved by a federal judge, the order prohibits Havas from entering into agreements that would set common brand safety standards or restrict advertising based on biased and politically motivated criteria.