Recently, President Trump directed the Department of Health and Human Services to tighten oversight of pharmaceutical advertising . That effort reflects a broader concern with consumer protection—ensuring that ads people see on their screens are accurate and responsible. But if policymakers truly want to get the best return for their efforts, there is another sector where consumer protection is urgently needed: legal services advertising.
For decades, trial lawyer ads have been a staple of late-night television. Today, they are also a growing presence online and across social media—platforms that thrive on clicks, outrage, and amplification. Big Tech companies happily cash in on these ads, which often masquerade as public health alerts or urgent consumer warnings. Unlike pharmaceutical