InfoBytes Blog
FINRA Releases New Guidance on Rules Concerning Digital Communications
On April 25, FINRA issued new guidance on the application of its rules governing communications with the public concerning social media networking sites and online business communications. In 2010 and 2011, FINRA released Regulatory Notices 10-06 and 11-39 to provide initial guidance on these specific rules, and in 2013, “adopted amendments to Rule 2010 that codif[ied] guidance provided in the Notices with respect to the supervision of interactive social media posts by member firms.” In December 2014, FINRA issued its Respective Rule Review Report, which was designed to “assess whether the communications rules are meeting their intended investor protection objectives . . . and to take steps to maintain or improve the effectiveness of the rules.” FINRA Regulatory Notice 17-18 is the response to the report’s request for additional guidance and provides examples of how FINRA applies its rules to the following topics: text messaging, personal communications, hyperlinks and content sharing, native advertising, online testimonials and endorsements, correction of third-party content, and BrokerCheck. FINRA further notes that Regulatory Notice 17-18 is intended to deliver further guidance and does not alter principles previously provided in prior notices.