FCC Chairman Warns Broadcasters Against Airing Fake Polls
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr warned major broadcast networks that airing fabricated polling data could violate federal licenses and constitute news distortion.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr warned U.S. broadcast networks on Wednesday that airing fake or suppression polls could violate their regulatory obligations. Carr specifically accused ABC News, NBC News, and CBS News of engaging in news distortion and promoting broadcast hoaxes, claiming such actions interfere with the electoral process and mislead voters before the midterm elections.
The warning follows an admission by Wedgewood Polling that it fabricated results. These fabricated figures were subsequently used by major news organizations, including The New York Times, to highlight failures in polling vetting standards. Carr asserted that broadcasters are prohibited by their federal licenses from promoting hoaxes and must comply with public interest obligations.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez criticized the Chairman's position, arguing that broadcasters who report publicly available data in good faith should not be punished. Because of First Amendment protections, the FCC's authority over news content is legally narrow and requires proof of deliberate distortion to enforce penalties.
