Critics are raising questions about the editorial oversight of Apple News after a study suggested the popular news app may favor left-leaning sources. The app comes preinstalled on iPhones and reaches a large audience, with Apple previously reporting more than 100 million monthly users across several countries.
Apple appointed magazine veteran Lauren Kern as editor-in-chief in 2017. Formerly of New York Magazine and The New York Times Magazine, Kern leads a team responsible for selecting stories “tens of millions of people will read,” according to a past New York Times profile.
A January review by the conservative Media Research Center analyzed 620 stories featured on the platform and found 440 came from outlets rated as left-leaning, 180 from centrist organizations, and none from right-leaning sources.
The findings drew attention from Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, who sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook warning the company could potentially violate consumer protection rules that prohibit unfair or deceptive practices.
Apple and Kern did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the allegations.