FTC Questions Apple News for Potential Bias Toward Left-Wing Articles

• Multiple studies cited by the FTC found Apple News featured zero articles from American conservative-leaning sources in recent months while promoting hundreds from liberal publications
• The FTC lacks authority to mandate political positions but can investigate whether practices violate Section 5 of the FTC Act, which bars unfair or deceptive acts
• Chairman Ferguson, appointed by Biden and named chair by Trump in January, has prioritized using FTC authority to address conservative concerns like perceived online censorship

Summary: FTC Questions Apple News for Potential Political Bias

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has raised concerns with Apple Inc. regarding allegations that Apple News exhibits political bias by favoring left-wing news outlets while suppressing conservative content. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook on February 11, outlining potential violations of consumer protection law.

Key Points:

Ferguson cited "multiple studies" indicating that Apple News has not featured "a single article from an American conservative-leaning news source" in recent months while promoting "hundreds of articles from liberal publications." The FTC chairman warned that if Apple's content curation practices contradict its terms of service or consumer expectations, they "may violate the FTC Act."

While the FTC lacks authority to mandate companies take political positions, Section 5 of the FTC Act prohibits unfair or deceptive practices. Ferguson argues that Apple News, which aggregates and curates content for tens of millions of American users, may be misleading consumers about its editorial approach.

Political Context:

Ferguson, a Republican appointed by President Biden and named FTC chair by President Trump in January, has prioritized using the agency's authority to address conservative concerns, including perceived online censorship and alleged advertiser boycotts of platforms like Elon Musk's X.

Market Implications:

This regulatory scrutiny adds pressure on Apple regarding content moderation policies and could signal increased government oversight of tech platforms' editorial decisions. Apple has not yet responded to the FTC's inquiry. The investigation highlights growing tensions between technology companies and regulators over content curation practices.