AI-assisted source summary. Read the scope and exceptions, then follow the original documents below.
Applies to
Endorsements affecting US consumers
Time context
FTC guidance checked October 20, 2026
Sources checked
FTC guidance is context-dependent and other jurisdictions may apply. A commercial relationship alone does not prove a recommendation false.
Payment is broader than cash
FTC guidance includes free or discounted products, employment, family connections and other valuable benefits. An influencer’s belief that they are unbiased does not remove the need to disclose a material connection.
A profile-only statement may be missed. The disclosure should be visible with the endorsement and in the same language. For affiliate links, explain that purchases can earn a commission close enough to the recommendation for readers to notice.
Look for who funded the test, which products were compared and whether the creator benefits from a purchase. These questions provide context; they do not replace checking the evidence behind the product claims.
Original documents used for this summary. Multiple links from one publisher are not independent corroboration. Policies can change after the check date.
AI-assisted research, writing and translation by No Secrets, using the linked public documents. This is a source summary, not firsthand reporting or an independently audited investigation. No affiliate links are used in this article.
The date above records this research pass, not the date of every underlying event. The English and Chinese versions are AI-assisted summaries; the linked original controls if they differ.