FTC Clears Omnicom Deal After Barring Advertising Boycotts Over Politics

Omnicom Group Inc., the third-largest US advertising agency, agreed to stop withholding online ads for political reasons to clear the way for federal antitrust regulators to approve the company’s $13.5 billion buyout of rival Interpublic Group.

The Federal Trade Commission said Monday Omnicom agreed to a consent order barring advertising boycotts of controversial companies – such as Elon Musk’s X Corp., formerly known as Twitter. The agency said it was concerned the merger, which would create the top US media buyer, increased the risk of “coordinated efforts to steer ad revenue away from certain news organizations, media outlets, and social media networks.”