The last thing the FTC will care about is audio. At least buyers can hear a product themselves and decide it it is good or not. Youtubers who get equipment samples to keep or flip are not their concern. Reviewers who get gear to review who require the vendor to cover all shipping costs both ways are not an issue. The targets will be mass online promoters of products who get cash or significant "emoluments" from their work will be targets (think TikTok "influencers raking in big money for promoting certain products, celebrity shills, etc.) Target industries will be ones where there are significant information differentials between sellers and buyers: health and medical, financial services and investment products, expensive capital personal goods like home construction, renovation and automobiles. Luxury goods like high-end audio carry a bias of "if you have that kind of money you should be smart enough to know better" and won't attract much interest. It isn't like audio anywhere is making billionaires.
No More Fake Reviews - So Who’s Gonna Tell Us What To Buy?
Very interesting and with a fairly profound impact on our audiophile community:
Some strong language in the ruling. How are some of our YouTubers going to be able to sustain their channels without gifted products?