Trump posts FTC Apple letter in Truth Social post

Trump posts FTC Apple letter in Truth Social post

FTC Investigates Alleged Political Bias in Apple News Curation Practices

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has raised concerns about potential violations of consumer protection laws by Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) news aggregation platform, Apple News. On February 12, 2026, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson sent a formal letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, warning that the platform's alleged systematic promotion of left-leaning news outlets and suppression of conservative content could breach Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits "unfair or deceptive acts or practices" according to the letter.

The letter cited a study by the conservative-leaning Media Research Center, which analyzed Apple News' featured stories during high-traffic periods in January 2026. Of 620 stories reviewed, none originated from outlets categorized as right-leaning by AllSides media bias ratings, while 440 came from left-leaning sources and 180 from centrist outlets as the study found. The FTC emphasized that such practices could mislead consumers if they conflict with Apple's stated terms of service or fail to disclose ideological favoritism according to the letter.

Ferguson clarified that the FTC does not regulate content neutrality but highlighted that Apple could face legal risks if its curation practices involve "material omissions" or cause "substantial injury" to consumers according to the letter. "The First Amendment does not shield firms from consequences for deceptive conduct," Ferguson wrote, urging Apple to conduct a "comprehensive review" of its policies and take corrective action if violations exist according to the letter.

Apple has not publicly responded to the allegations or the FTC's inquiry. The company maintains the right to curate content as it sees fit, though critics argue this case could set a precedent for regulating algorithmic bias in media platforms according to CNBC.

The development adds regulatory scrutiny to Apple's business practices amid broader political debates over tech companies' influence on information distribution. Investors may monitor potential legal actions or reputational risks arising from the investigation.

(https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-ftc-sends-letter-apple-021932971.html): Yahoo, Washington Post, CNBC
(https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/12/ftc-tim-cook-apple-news-censorship.html): CNBC