FTC Warns Apple Over Alleged Bias on Apple News Platform

The Federal Trade Commission has warned Apple over allegations that its Apple News platform suppresses conservative viewpoints, as tensions rise between the company and the Trump administration.



In a letter to CEO Tim Cook, FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson cited recent press coverage of a report from the Media Research Center (MRC), which found Apple News promoted "leftist outlets" in its feed while excluding right-leaning publications from prominent placement. According to the Financial Times, the report alleged that none of the 620 top stories featured on the platform during the first month of 2026 came from a right-leaning media outlet such as Fox News, The Daily Mail, or Breitbart.


Ferguson wrote that "any act or practice" by Apple News to suppress or promote articles based on their perceived ideological or political viewpoint "may violate" U.S. laws that prohibit businesses from misleading consumers. He urged Apple to conduct a "comprehensive review" of its terms of service and take corrective action if its content curation does not align with them. He added that the FTC is not the "speech police," but that free speech protections do not extend to "material misrepresentations made to consumers."

Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr applauded Ferguson's move, stating that "Apple has no right to suppress conservative viewpoints in violation of the FTC Act." The public rebukes came a day after President Trump shared coverage of the MRC report on Truth Social, drawing further attention to Apple's media practices. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also amplified coverage of the report on X.

The warning marks a further escalation in public tensions between Apple and members of the Trump administration. Trump has previously criticized Big Tech companies over claims they have suppressed conservative voices and has targeted Apple over its reliance on manufacturing in China and India. However, the president had largely refrained from attacking the company after Cook pledged to spend $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, a move that helped secure promises of tariff exemptions for Apple products.

However, the dynamic appears to have soured recently. Reports indicate Cook held an all-hands meeting last week, promising staff he would urge the administration to reconsider aspects of its immigration enforcement approach. The friction intensified following the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on Sunday. Apple spent weeks promoting the event, releasing exclusive content featuring headliner Bad Bunny. President Trump later called the performance an "affront to the greatness of America" after the artist publicly opposed the administration's illegal immigration crackdown.


Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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