FTC warns Tim Cook over alleged Apple News bias

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a stern warning letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook regarding its news aggregator, Apple News. In his letter, Chairman Andrew Ferguson highlighted concerns that the app may be systematically favoring left-leaning sources over right-leaning ones, potentially violating the FTC Act and unfair or deceptive business practices.

Ferguson cited research from the Media Research Center (MRC), a conservative watchdog group, to back up allegations that tech companies like Apple could manipulate digital news feeds based on perceived ideological viewpoints. Ferguson wrote: “Policies that exclude some sources stifle the free exchange of ideas, manipulate public discourse and are inconsistent with American values.” He asked Apple to review its content curation strategies and implement swift corrective actions if it is excluding conservative news from user feeds.

Apple News aggregates stories from various digital publications, tailoring them to users’ preferences. The FTC’s analysis found that more than 400 of the stories featured in users’ feeds during January were deemed left-leaning by MRC’s AllSides rating system. In contrast, right-leaning sources did not appear frequently in these curated content lists.

The FTC stressed that it is not “the speech police,” but noted its mandate to ensure consumers are protected from misleading representations and omissions. Ferguson argued: “We do not have authority to require Apple or any firm to take affirmative positions on political issues or curate news offerings consistent with one ideology over another.”

Nevertheless, the agency’s investigation underscores the complex role of tech giants in shaping digital content ecosystems and raises important questions about media freedom and fairness. The FTC’s intervention signals a broader debate around corporate editorial practices and consumer rights in the digital age.

Apple did not respond to CBS News’ request for comment on this matter.