FTC probes Apple News over alleged conservative content suppression

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the country’s competition regulator, has initiated an inquiry into Apple News following allegations of ideological censorship. The regulatory move follows a report from the Media Research Center, a right-leaning think tank, which accused Apple of excluding right-leaning outlets from the top 20 articles in the Apple News feed. In response, the FTC has raised concerns over allegations that Apple is censoring conservative content on its news aggregation application.

In a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, FTC chair Andrew Ferguson questioned whether the company’s curation practices align with its public commitments. Ferguson noted that while the FTC does not have the power to require Apple to take ideological or political positions when curating news, the company’s actions may be in violation of the FTC Act if its practices are inconsistent with its terms of service or the reasonable expectations of consumers. He wrote that the reports raise serious questions about whether Apple News is acting in accordance with its terms of service and consumer representations, adding that he condemns any attempt to censor content for ideological reasons. Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the U.S. communications regulator, supported the inquiry, writing that “Apple has no right to suppress conservative viewpoints in violation of the FTC Act.”

This regulatory pressure comes as the administration of President Donald Trump balances its criticism of technology firms with Apple’s economic commitments. Apple has sought to improve relations stateside, promising to invest more than $600 billion over the next four years in the U.S. while navigating tensions over manufacturing its devices in China. However, the inquiry also aligns with a broader FTC investigation into censorship by tech platforms. Commenting on that effort, Ferguson stated that tech firms should not bully their users, adding that the inquiry would help the regulator understand how these firms may have violated the law by silencing and intimidating Americans for speaking their minds.

Why it matters

The FTC’s inquiry into Apple News highlights the intensifying regulatory scrutiny of Big Tech’s content curation practices under the current U.S. administration.