British media outlets have pointed out and warned of a new feature that will enter Apple’s next operating system as a threat to media companies’ financial continuity. The News Media Association (NMA), a British media organization, sent a letter to Apple’s head of government affairs in the UK on the 10th, expressing concern that such a feature could adversely affect the media industry’s advertising revenue. The NMA is an organization representing more than 900 national and local media in the UK, including major daily newspapers such as The Times, The Guardian, and The Telegraph.
In the letter, the NMA pointed out that advertising is a key source of income for many media outlets, and for the public, online platforms such as web browsers and social networks are important channels for accessing news. “The blocking of advertisements could undermine the ability of content creators to secure finances to continue their work, and consumers may miss out on important information,” it said.
The NMA also expressed concern that selectively changing and deleting article content with such AI tools could raise editorial responsibility issues, stressing the need for consultations between media and Apple. Apple declined to comment.
Automatically blocking online ads will hurt media companies. Companies will stop advertising online that brings benefits. Automatically deleting online ads to meet your needs can bring about cost savings, but it can create bigger problems. Consumers will have limited information they can get freely.
JULIE KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
