Apple has been warned by British newspaper groups that imposing a “web eraser”, a tool used to block ads, would threaten the financial viability of journalism.
Apple will include a privacy feature based on AI in its Safari browser with the next iOS 18 update. This feature will remove unwanted ads and other website content.
The News Media Association (which represents 900 titles from national, regional, and local publications) expressed concerns in a letter to Apple’s UK government affairs chief on Friday.
In the letter, it was stated that professional journalism needed funding and “advertising is a major revenue stream for many publishing houses”. The Times, The Guardian, and The Daily Telegraph are all members of the NMA.
The NMA says that online platforms like web browsers and social media are key for public access to journalism. Publishers can also “monetize their content on the digital market”.
Publishers are concerned about the prospect of an automatic blocking of online ads. They already face a squeeze in their revenues due to separate actions by tech groups which have slowed down news traffic, and a general slowdown in market spending. Apple declined to make a comment.
In its letter, the NMA said that “ad blocking is a blunt tool which frustrates content creators’ ability to sustainably finance their work and may lead to consumers missing out on important information they would have otherwise found very useful”.
The letter also said that serious questions would be raised about editorial accountability if AI tools are used to selectively delete or alter the content of articles. The letter called for a discussion between Apple and publishers to determine the possible implications of the web-eraser.
In recent years, media groups have struggled to earn money after large tech companies that they depend on for news and content delivery have made it harder to do so.
Apple’s recent attempts to position themselves as a protector of its customers’ data privacy have cost a wide range of businesses who rely on the data for targeting ads, including Meta and local newspapers.
Apple’s App Tracking Transparency feature, introduced in 2021 as part of a software update, prohibits apps and advertisers from collecting information about iPhone users without explicit consent.
Apple’s privacy protections have been tightened in iOS updates since the majority of users refused to grant permission. This includes further restrictions on email tracking and device fingerprinting.
Google had threatened Apple by blocking third-party cookie used by advertisers for audience targeting. This move has been delayed due to regulatory concerns.
Meta decided last year to reduce news on Facebook. This included axing Facebook News in Europe and Instant Articles, which has slowed traffic for media companies. It also halted a UK-based scheme that funded local journalism.
This has led to a decline in digital revenues for many newspaper groups. Media executives are particularly angry because social media platforms used newspaper content for free to build their audience.
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