Agency Publicity in the Internet Era

Authors

Nathan Cortez, Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of LawFollow

Abstract

This Report, prepared for the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS), details how federal agencies use modern forms of publicity - including press releases, agency web sites, searchable online databases, and social media - to achieve regulatory ends. It evaluates the benefits and burdens of modern agency publicity practices, using three agencies as case studies: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); the Federal Trade Commission (FTC); and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Part V recommends a series of largely procedural reforms that balance the need for public disclosure with the need to protect those potentially injured by adverse agency publicity.

This Report formed the basis for Administrative Conference Recommendation 2016-1, Consumer Complaint Databases, adopted at the June 10, 2016 Plenary Session. See 81 Fed. Reg. 40249 (Jun. 21, 2016).

Document Type

Report

Keywords

administrative law, publicity, social media, FDA, FTC, CFPB, press releases, information law

Recommended Citation

Nathan Cortez, Agency Publicity in the Internet Era (September 25, 2015).