It looks like Ashton Kutcher is in the clear.
Mr. Kutcher drew criticism this week after the release of an online-only version of Details magazine that he guest-edited. In the issue, the actor failed to fully disclose his investments in more than a dozen technology companies that were profiled.
On Thursday, Richard Cleland, assistant director of the division of advertising practices at the Federal Trade Commission, said in an interview that people had an obligation to disclose their investments in that kind of editorial context, adding: “It’s certainly a possibility that a case like this could be investigated.â€
But on Friday, the F.T.C. appeared to back away from that stance. It issued a statement on Twitter that said: “The F.T.C. is not and has no plans to investigate Ashton Kutcher.” The statement was attributed to David Vladeck, director of the agency’s bureau of consumer protection.
“Rich Cleland misspoke,” said Peter Kaplan, deputy public affairs director at the F.T.C., in an interview. He declined to elaborate.
Mr. Kutcher has nearly 7.5 million followers on Twitter and followed 666 accounts as of Friday, when he added the F.T.C.’s account to the list. Mr. Kutcher has not posted anything about the controversy. In response to requests for comment, a spokeswoman for his production company sent an e-mail with a link to the F.T.C. Twitter message.
The F.T.C. has pursued similar cases in the past. Last year, the agency settled with a Seattle-based public relations firm after it posted reviews of clients’ games online without disclosing the reviewers’ relationship with the clients. The F.T.C. said the agency had engaged in “deceptive advertising,” citing a series of agency guidelines that cover endorsements.
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