Apple has received a formal warning from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over how it curates content on Apple News. The agency urged the company to review whether its editorial choices suppress conservative publications. The move marks a sharp escalation in tensions between Apple and members of the Trump administration.
The issue centers on claims that Apple News favored left-leaning or nonpartisan outlets while excluding right-leaning publishers from prominent placements. Regulators now question whether those practices align with Apple’s terms of service and consumer expectations.
The Financial Times reported on the letter sent to Apple CEO Tim Cook. In it, FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson cited a study by the conservative Media Research Center, which reviewed Apple News content in January 2026.
What the FTC Said
Ferguson urged Apple to conduct a comprehensive review of its content policies and take corrective action if needed. He argued that promoting or suppressing content based on political viewpoint could raise legal concerns under the FTC Act.
“Any act or practice by Apple News to suppress or promote news articles based on the perceived ideological or political viewpoint of the article or publication may violate” U.S. laws that prevent businesses from misleading consumers, Ferguson wrote.
He also clarified the agency’s limits.
“The FTC is not the speech police; we do not have the authority to require Apple or any other firm to take affirmative positions on any political issue, nor to curate news offerings consistent with one ideology or another. But Congress mandated that we protect consumers from material misrepresentations or omissions, including when the product or service offered to consumers is a speech-related product.”
Political Context and Industry Reaction
The Media Research Center report claimed that none of the top 620 stories featured in Apple News during January came from right-leaning outlets such as Fox News, Breitbart, or The Daily Mail. It said Apple News instead favored outlets including The Washington Post, Reuters, The Associated Press, and The Wall Street Journal.
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr supported the FTC’s action and criticized Apple’s editorial decisions. President Donald Trump also shared coverage of the report on Truth Social. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted about it on X.
Apple has not commented publicly. The letter adds pressure on the company at a time when its relationship with the administration remains under scrutiny.
