FTC warns Apple over alleged lack of conservative news

Apple is facing mounting political pressure over claims that it has "systematically suppressed" news published by conservative outlets.

In a letter to the company published on Thursday, the head of the Federal Trade Commission called on Apple to review its policies, warning that companies that suppress or promote views based on ideology could be in violation of consumer protection rules.

The missive follows scrutiny of the tech giant's news app by the Media Research Center, a conservative media watchdog, which has accused Apple of a having a "defiant stance against offering news from right-leaning outlets".

A spokesman for Apple declined to comment.

Apple News, which offers users access to news stories from more than 3,000 publications, ranked as the most popular news app in the US, Canada and Australia, and the second most popular in the UK in January, according to the company.

The articles displayed are typically determined by an algorithm, which responds to users' interactions and personal tastes.

The FTC letter cites concerns about a report by the Media Research Center, which said that the app did not feature any articles from right-leaning outlets in its top 20 stories offered to readers in the morning last month.

News about those claims have been shared widely in conservative media circles, including by President Donald Trump.

Apple has said its app is focused on journalism of "quality", which does not include content such as personal blogs, promotional material, or reports from websites that primarily aggregate or rewrite content from other publishers.

It also bars news that contains "factual inaccuracies" or otherwise does not follow "widely accepted journalistic standards".

The FTC has no legal authority to force Apple News to make any alterations to its platform or processes.

In the letter released by the FTC, chair Andrew Ferguson acknowledged the limits of his power, while maintaining that his oversight had a place.

"The FTC is not the speech police," he wrote. "But Congress has mandated that we protect consumers from material misrepresentations and omissions, including when the product or service offered to consumers is a speech-related product."

"I encourage you to conduct a comprehensive review of Apple's terms of service and ensure that Apple News' curation of articles is consistent with those terms," he added.

Ferguson, a Republican and former Attorney General of Virginia, was appointed to chair the FTC by President Donald Trump.

One of his first actions after Trump's election was to launch an inquiry into the major tech companies for purported "tech censorship."

It followed a wider focus on tech companies, such as X, Google and Meta, from across the political spectrum over how they are handling of content and disinformation on their platforms.

For example, Elon Musk's X, formerly Twitter, has repeatedly been accused of promoting politically conservative content and influencers, including Musk himself.

Google has also drawn attention as a controlling force in what information people see, creating and often reinforcing people's personal and political biases by showing people more of what they want to see online.

Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, in recent years has stepped back from promoting news, while loosening content rules.

Last year it also agreed to pay Trump $25m to settle a lawsuit from the president accusing the company of violating the First Amendment by banning his Facebook and Instagram accounts after the Jan. 6 US Capitol riot.

Apple has largely stayed out of the crosshairs.

Chief executive Tim Cook has worked to build a relationship with Trump since his first term, helping the company navigate challenges such as tariffs.

He has donated at least $1 million to Trump and last year presented the president with a unique glass and 24-karat gold sculpture as a gift.

He has appeared frequently at White House events during Trump's second stint in office, most recently at a private screening of the film "Melania" documenting First Lady Melania Trump.