Google wrote scripts forcing on-air talent to lie about their experience with the Pixel 4
Google and iHeartMedia ran the deceptive Pixel 4 ads 29,000 times according to the FTC
The scripts included dialogue like this: “The only thing I love more than taking the perfect photo? Taking the perfect photo at night. With Google Pixel 4 both are a cinch. It’s my favorite phone camera out there, especially in low light, thanks to Night Sight Mode.” Another script had the DJs say, “I’ve been taking studio-like photos of everything…my son’s football game… a meteor shower… a rare spotted owl that landed in my backyard. Pics or it didn’t happen, am I right?”
The FTC says that the proposed order will prohibit Google from misrepresenting that the person endorsing a product has owned or used, or about their experience with, certain products. It also will prohibit iHeartMedia from misrepresenting that an employee promoting a product has owned or used, or about their experience with, any consumer product or service. And it will require both Google and iHeartMedia to distribute the order to certain people, file compliance reports with the Commission, and keep records thus allowing the FTC to monitor both firms for compliance.
The seven states involved are proposing that Google and iHeartMedia pay $9.4 million in penalties
The states involved in the legal action, Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Texas, have also issued judgments requesting $9.4 million in penalties be paid by the search giant and the nation’s largest radio broadcasting firm (with more than 850 AM and FM radio stations). Including its internet radio service, more than 245 million people listen each month to the broadcaster’s shows. It isn’t known how many happened to hear one of the Pixel 4 advertisements.
Besides iHeartMedia, the FTC says that 11 other broadcast networks in ten states were paid by Google to promote the Pixel 4 series.
