AppleLast Updated: April 27, 2022
Insurrection Related Information
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Executive Summary
Apple and Google continue to offer nearly 20 podcasts that promote far-right militia groups and the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory, despite the role these movements played in fueling the deadly U.S. Capitol riot, according to an investigation by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP). Apple TV also carries a show devoted to the Oath Keepers anti-government militia, TTP found. Apple and Google, by including this content in their offerings, give extremists another way to reach potentially millions of people.
TTP also observed that Apple is actually promoting the far-right and conspiracy podcasts in some cases, via the recommendation algorithm on its podcast app.
Apple sought the help of Trump’s USTR in dealing with multiple issues in South Korea, including proposed legislation to establish new app store rules and an antitrust investigation by regulators. Apple’s plea for intervention came in August 2020, shortly after Trump refused to say whether he would accept the U.S. election result and claimed the only way he could lose was if the vote was rigged.
