NMA Condemns Apple's Plan To Launch Web Deletion Tool To Block Ads

JAKARTA - The British newspaper group warned Apple that any move to impose a "web deletion" tool that is said to be blocking ads is considered to jeopardize the sustainability of press finances and journalism. This was reported by the Financial Times (FT) on Sunday, May 12.

Apple is preparing an artificial intelligence (AI)-based privacy feature in the Safari browser for the next iOS 18 software update. According to the FT report, the feature will remove unwanted ads or content of other websites.

The News Media Association (NMA), the industry agency, expressed concerns about how the tool will affect revenue in the digital industry. This cites a letter sent to Apple's head of government affairs in the UK on Friday, May 10.

The letter, according to an FT report, added that professional journalism requires funding and "advertising is a key revenue stream for many publishers".

In the letter, NMA expressed concerns about editorial accountability if artificial intelligence tools were used to selectively delete or change article content.

NMA has asked for a meeting between publishers and Apple to discuss the potential implications of the web eraser. However, Apple and NMA did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the media.

NMA is a national, regional and local media organization association based in the UK.