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Thursday, January 20, 2022

iHM Personality Endorsements Cited in Texas A-G Lawsuit


Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday, Jan. 19 sued Google, alleging the company asked local radio DJs to record personal endorsements for smartphones that they hadn’t used or been provided, according to CBS/DFW.

In the lawsuit filed in Montgomery County, Paxton said Google engaged in false and misleading practices in violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices—Consumer Protection Act.

The lawsuit says Google hired iHeartMedia in October 2019 to have its radio personalities — including those in markets in the Dallas and Houston areas — record advertisements for the Pixel 4, a Google-brand smartphone.

But at the time the advertisements were recorded, the lawsuit says, the phone wasn’t released yet and none of the DJs had used them.

The suit says that even though iHeartMedia “expressed to Google the violative nature of the advertisements” if the DJs had not used them, Google did not provide phone samples.

Google spokesman José Castañeda said Wednesday that they take compliance with advertising laws seriously and have policies in place to help ensure they follow regulations.

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