FTC Chair Calls for Review of Political Bias in Apple News
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 12 2026
0mins
Should l Buy AAPL?
Source: CNBC
- Political Bias Allegations: FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson has urged Tim Cook to review potential political bias in Apple News, following reports that the platform systematically suppresses conservative news, impacting the diversity of public information access.
- Legal Compliance Issues: Ferguson noted in his letter that Apple News could be violating Section 5 of the FTC Act if its content promotion or suppression contradicts consumers' reasonable expectations, which could lead to significant reputational damage for the company.
- Supporting Research Findings: A study from the Media Research Center revealed that right-leaning outlets were not featured in a sample of 620 stories on Apple News, indicating a potential bias in content selection that could trigger a broader public trust crisis.
- Political Environment Impact: While Apple has navigated Trump's presidency effectively, the current allegations may strain its relationship with conservative users, potentially affecting its brand image and market performance.
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Analyst Views on AAPL
Wall Street analysts forecast AAPL stock price to rise
27 Analyst Rating
17 Buy
9 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 264.350
Low
239.00
Averages
306.89
High
350.00
Current: 264.350
Low
239.00
Averages
306.89
High
350.00
About AAPL
Apple Inc. designs, manufactures and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables and accessories, and sells a variety of related services. Its product categories include iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Wearables, Home and Accessories. Its software platforms include iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS. Its services include advertising, AppleCare, cloud services, digital content and payment services. The Company operates various platforms, including the App Store, that allow customers to discover and download applications and digital content, such as books, music, video, games and podcasts. It also offers digital content through subscription-based services, including Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple News+, and Apple TV+. Its products include iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone SE, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Pro, iPad Pro, iPad Air, AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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