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FTC Warns Apple Over Alleged Political Bias in Apple News

By  |  February 12, 2026

The Federal Trade Commission has formally contacted Apple regarding allegations that its Apple News platform may exhibit political bias in how it curates and promotes content. In a letter sent Wednesday to Apple CEO Tim Cook, FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson outlined concerns that the company’s practices could potentially run afoul of federal consumer protection laws.

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    According to a statement from the agency, the letter cautions that Apple News could be in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices in commerce. The correspondence follows reports alleging that Apple News systematically favors left-leaning publications while limiting the visibility of right-leaning sources.

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    Ferguson emphasized in the letter that while technology companies are protected by the First Amendment, those protections have limits. “The First Amendment protects the speech of Big Tech firms. But the First Amendment has never extended its protection to material misrepresentations made to consumers, nor does it immunize speakers from conduct that Congress has deemed unfair under the FTC Act, even if that conduct involves speech,” Ferguson wrote to Cook.

    Per a statement from the FTC, the chairman’s letter serves as a reminder to Apple of its obligations to customers, particularly regarding transparency and adherence to its own stated terms of service. The agency indicated that if Apple misrepresents how Apple News operates or fails to follow its published policies, such conduct could constitute a violation of federal law.

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    The letter further outlines circumstances under which content moderation or curation practices by large technology companies could trigger scrutiny under the FTC Act. It states: “Big Tech companies that suppress or promote news articles in their news aggregators or feeds based on the perceived ideological or political viewpoint of the article or publication may violate the FTC Act if that suppression or promotion (1) is inconsistent with the terms and conditions of service; (2) is contrary to consumers’ reasonable expectations such that failure to disclose the ideological favoritism is a material omission; or (3) when those practices cause substantial injury that is neither reasonably avoidable nor outweighed by countervailing benefits to consumers or competition.”

    According to a statement from the commission, the FTC’s mission includes promoting competition and protecting consumers through enforcement and education. The agency also reiterated that it does not demand money, issue threats, instruct individuals to transfer funds, or promise prizes. Consumers seeking information or wishing to report potential scams, fraud, or unfair business practices can do so at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, per a statement from the agency. The FTC also encourages the public to follow its social media channels, read its blogs, and subscribe to press releases for updates and resources.

    Source: ftc.gov