People have free speech. If someone wants to recommend some product to a friend, they are absolutely free to do so. That's how things should work.

Companies are not people. Their speech should be fully regulated.

At least not without the attendant responsibilities. If we're going to treat companies like people, go all the way. When they commit crimes, send them to prison, i.e., make them fully stop any economic activity for years at a time.

> "fraud: one person trying to convince another to give them money in exchange for something they may or may not need or want"

That is one bizarre definition for the word "fraud".

I am not so sure about the fraud claim. I once saw an add on FB and bought the product. I am still happy to this day and do not feel the victim to fraud. But I do agree it is odd society has allowed it to go on as it has for so long. Especially in the US with their constitutional rights and freedoms. People so worried the government will sneak the smallest peek but totally don’t bat and eye when some private company mines every detail of your life. Weird.

I can't count the number of times I've seen advertising for a product that I then purchased and was very happy with - but I would not have ever found it without the advertising.

I think you misunderstand advertising if you think it’s fraud.

You're right, it's more like corporate-sponsored brainwashing.