FTC Chair Questions Apple Over Alleged News Bias

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson has formally requested that Apple CEO Tim Cook review Apple News' curation policies following allegations that the service systematically sidelines conservative publications in favor of left-leaning media outlets.

The controversy stems from a study published by the Media Research Center (MRC), a conservative watchdog group, which claimed that Apple News failed to feature any right-leaning outlets among its top 20 articles in the "morning editions" between January 1 and January 31, 2026. According to the MRC's findings, while Apple News prominently featured articles from "elitist media outlets that amplify the left's narrative" as well as center outlets, conservative media sources were notably absent from the platform's most visible content.

In a letter dated February 11, 2026, Ferguson informed Cook that Apple News' alleged practices might constitute a violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits "unfair or deceptive acts or practices" including material misrepresentations and omissions to consumers. The FTC chair emphasized that while the First Amendment protects the speech of Big Tech firms, this protection does not extend to situations that Congress may deem unfair under the FTC Act.

The letter outlined three specific scenarios where Apple News' curation practices could violate federal law:

1. If the suppression or promotion of news articles is inconsistent with the terms and conditions of service
2. If the practices are contrary to consumers' reasonable expectations, making failure to disclose ideological favoritism a material omission
3. If these practices cause substantial injury that is neither reasonably avoidable nor outweighed by countervailing benefits to consumers or competition

Ferguson also referenced a December 2025 MRC study and a New York Post article covering the more recent findings, both alleging intentional suppression of conservative outlets in favor of left-leaning publications. The FTC chair concluded by encouraging Cook to conduct a comprehensive review of Apple's terms of service and ensure that Apple News' article curation aligns with those terms and representations made to consumers.

As of publication, Apple has not publicly responded to Ferguson's letter or the MRC studies. The company faces mounting pressure to address concerns about potential bias in its news aggregation platform, which reaches millions of iOS and macOS users daily.

The timing of this inquiry is particularly significant given the current political climate and ongoing debates about content moderation and algorithmic bias across major tech platforms. Apple's approach to news curation has historically been more hands-off compared to competitors like Facebook and Twitter, which have faced intense scrutiny over their content moderation policies.

This development raises important questions about the role of technology companies in shaping public discourse and the extent to which government regulators can or should intervene in editorial decisions made by private platforms. The outcome of this inquiry could have far-reaching implications for how tech companies approach content curation and what responsibilities they bear in ensuring balanced representation of diverse viewpoints.

For developers and content creators who rely on Apple News as a distribution channel, this controversy highlights the importance of understanding platform policies and the potential risks of depending on a single distribution mechanism. The situation also underscores the complex balance between editorial discretion and the responsibility to provide fair representation of diverse perspectives in digital news aggregation.

The FTC's involvement in this matter represents a significant escalation in regulatory scrutiny of tech platforms' content curation practices. Unlike previous controversies that focused primarily on content moderation and removal of harmful content, this inquiry centers on the more nuanced question of whether algorithmic or editorial decisions about content promotion constitute unfair or deceptive practices under federal law.

As the situation develops, industry observers will be watching closely to see how Apple responds to the FTC's request and whether the company will implement changes to its news curation processes. The outcome could set important precedents for how tech platforms approach content aggregation and what level of transparency they must provide about their editorial decision-making processes.

The controversy also highlights the broader challenge facing tech companies in an increasingly polarized media landscape. As platforms like Apple News play an increasingly central role in how people consume information, the question of how to ensure fair and balanced representation of diverse viewpoints becomes more pressing and more complex.

For now, the ball is in Apple's court as the company considers how to respond to the FTC's request for a comprehensive review of its news curation practices. The tech industry, regulators, and consumers alike will be watching closely to see what steps, if any, Apple takes to address concerns about potential bias in its news aggregation platform.