Newspaper groups warn Apple about ad blocking plans

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British journalism groups have warned Apple that any move to impose so-called “web scraping” tools to block ads would jeopardize the financial sustainability of the newspaper industry.

According to reports, Apple is preparing to bring AI-based security features to the Safari browser in the next iOS 18 software update. This feature will remove ads or other unwanted website content.

In a letter sent Friday to Apple’s head of government affairs in the UK, the News Media Association, which represents 900 national, regional and local bodies, raised concerns on how this will impact digital revenue in the industry.

The Financial Times, which has seen the letter, said professional journalism needs funding “and advertising is the main source of income for many publishers”. NMA members include The Times, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph.

The NMA argues that online platforms such as web browsers and social networks are important avenues for the public to access journalism, but also for publishers to “monetize their content in the digital marketplace.” digital”.

The prospect of automatic blocking of online ads has caused significant alarm among publishers, which are facing a decline in revenue due to separate moves by tech groups to limit traffic. news volume and widespread spending decline in many parts of the market. Apple declined to comment.

The NMA letter said “ad blocking is a blunt instrument that hinders the ability of content creators to sustainably fund their work and can lead to consumers missing important information that would otherwise be important.” It’s very useful for them.”

Serious questions about editorial responsibility would also be raised if AI tools were used to selectively delete or change the content of articles, the letter said. It calls for a meeting between publishers and Apple to discuss the potential impacts of the web scraper.

Media groups have been reeling in recent years after the big tech groups they rely on to deliver their news and content made it harder to make money.

Apple’s efforts to position itself as a champion of customer privacy in recent years have forced many businesses that rely on data for ad targeting, from Meta to local newspapers, to bargain.

The 2021 software update introduced an Apple feature called App Tracking Transparency, which prohibits apps and advertisers from collecting data about iPhone users without consent. their intentions are clear.

Most users declined to grant permission, and Apple has tightened privacy protections in subsequent iOS updates, including further restrictions on device fingerprinting and email tracking. .

Google has threatened to follow Apple in blocking third-party cookies used by advertisers to target audiences – a move that has been delayed due to regulatory concerns.

Meta last year decided to cut back on news on Facebook, including removing Facebook News and Instant Articles in Europe, which had reduced traffic for media groups. It also ends a scheme to fund local journalism in England.

These moves have caused the digital revenue of many newspaper groups to decline. Many media executives are especially angry that social media platforms have used free journalistic content to help build their audiences.