FTC Chair Criticizes Apple News Feed for Lack of Conservative Outlets

Regulator says Apple is 'suppressing' content from right-leaning news sources

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The chairman of the Federal Trade Commission has written to Apple CEO Tim Cook, accusing the company of 'suppressing' content from conservative news outlets in the Apple News feed that is loaded onto many Apple devices. The FTC chair urged Cook to review the content used in the news feed and take corrective action.

Why it matters

This complaint from the FTC chair highlights ongoing tensions between tech companies and conservative media outlets over perceived bias in content curation and moderation. It also raises questions about the FTC's role in overseeing how major platforms like Apple News present news and information to consumers.

The details

In his letter, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said that while the agency is not the 'speech police,' it does have the authority to protect consumers from material misrepresentations and omissions. The complaint was prompted by a report from the conservative Media Research Center, which found that none of the 620 top stories featured in the Apple News app during January came from a conservative media source.

  • The FTC chairman's letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook was sent on February 12, 2026.

The players

Andrew Ferguson

The chairman of the Federal Trade Commission who wrote the letter to Apple criticizing the content curation of the Apple News feed.

Tim Cook

The CEO of Apple who received the letter from the FTC chairman regarding the content of the Apple News feed.

Media Research Center

A conservative media watchdog organization that published a report finding a lack of conservative news sources in the Apple News feed, which prompted the FTC chairman's letter.

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What they’re saying

“While the FTC is not the 'speech police,' it does have the authority to protect consumers from material misrepresentations and omissions.”

— Andrew Ferguson, FTC Chairman (srnnews.com)

What’s next

The FTC chairman has urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to review the content used in the Apple News feed and take corrective action to address the perceived lack of conservative news sources.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing debate over content moderation and curation by tech platforms, as well as the potential for regulatory oversight from agencies like the FTC when it comes to how major tech companies present news and information to consumers.