The Apple company. AAPL he is alleged to have prevented Jon Stewartformer “Daily Show” host, from hosting a podcast episode with the chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Lina Khan. This comes in the context of ongoing antitrust investigations into Apple’s business practices and market monopoly.
What happened: Stewart revealed that Apple blocked him from interviewing FTC Chairman Khan on his podcast, “The Problem With Jon Stewart.” The podcast is an offshoot of his AppleTV show that shares the same name.
During a segment on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” Stewart told Khan, “Apple asked us not to do this. They literally said, ‘please don’t talk to her.’”
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This development reportedly follows a recent lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice against Apple. The lawsuit accuses the tech giant of monopolizing the smartphone market in violation of antitrust laws. The lawsuit also highlights Apple’s growing influence in the television and film production industry, which allows it to control content.
Reacting to these allegations, Apple defended its business strategies, saying that the lawsuit “threatens who we are and the principles that distinguish Apple products in highly competitive markets.” Apple insists that a successful lawsuit would hinder its ability to deliver the technology customers expect.
Because matter: The alleged incident points to growing tension between tech giants and regulators. In particular, Stewart has openly criticized prominent figures in the tech industry. Khan, chair of the FTC, is renowned for her rigorous views on antitrust issues. Under her leadership, the FTC began auditing several tech giants, including Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Nvidia.
In a previous episode of “The Daily Show,” he satirically called out individuals such as Marco Zuckerberg, Sam Altmann, Sundar PichaiAND Satya Nadella for their lofty promises regarding the potential of artificial intelligence. The recent incident adds another chapter to the ongoing narrative about big tech’s struggle with antitrust issues.
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Image by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff via Flickr
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