Ashton Kutcher Could Face FTC Investigation

Ashton Kutcher could potentially be in hot water with the Federal Trade Commission. While acting as guest editor for the online-version of Details magazine, Kutcher failed to disclose his own investments in Internet companies that were profiled in the mag’s special technology-focused installment, called “The Social Issue.” Kutcher is an investor in many online-properties including, Foursquare, Flipboard, Fashism, Blekko, Tinychat, SeatGeek and Airbnb, among others, all of which were highlighted in the issue. Richard Cleland, assistant director of the FTC’s advertising practices division, said Kutcher’s lack of full disclosure could land him in hot water with the Federal Trade Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission. The only time Kutcher’s investments are addressed in the issue is through a line in the introduction saying the actor “puts his money where his mouth is, backing many of the companies he champions here.”