FTC warns Apple’s Tim Cook over alleged political bias in its Apple News app

The Federal Trade Commission recently issued a warning letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook regarding allegations that the Apple News app systematically boosts left-wing sources while suppressing right-wing sources. This warning letter, sent by FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, raised concerns that Apple may be violating the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive practices.

The Apple News app is designed to aggregate news stories from various digital publications to provide users with a curated news feed based on their preferences. However, the FTC’s warning letter referenced research from the Media Research Center, a right-leaning watchdog group, which found that Apple News predominantly featured stories from left-leaning outlets while excluding right-leaning sources.

Ferguson emphasized that tech companies should not base their news curation on a publication’s perceived ideological or political viewpoint, as this could hinder the free exchange of ideas and manipulate public discourse. He urged Apple to review its article curation practices and take corrective action if conservative news sources are being excluded.

The Media Research Center’s analysis of over 600 stories featured on Apple News in January revealed a significant bias towards left-leaning outlets, with very few right-leaning sources included. The Center relies on AllSides, a company that rates the perceived political bias of online publications, to determine a news source’s perspective.

In addition to potential violations of the FTC Act, Ferguson suggested that Apple may also be breaching its own terms and conditions by failing to disclose practices that could cause harm to consumers. While the FTC does not have the authority to dictate a company’s political stance or news curation, it is mandated to ensure that consumers are protected from misleading information and omissions.

It is important to note that Apple did not immediately respond to CBS News’ request for comment on the matter. As this issue continues to unfold, it raises questions about the role of technology companies in shaping the news landscape and the need for transparency and fairness in news curation practices.

This article was edited by Aimee Picchi and provides insight into the ongoing debate surrounding Apple News and its alleged bias towards left-wing sources. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.