Study: Apple, Google News Platforms Allegedly Suppressed Negative Platner Stories
Major news aggregation platforms operated by Apple and Google allegedly maintained a months-long blackout of negative coverage concerning Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, according to a new study. The Media Research Center (MRC), a conservative watchdog organization, claims that between November 2023 and May 2024, neither Apple News nor Google News featured any stories detailing the controversies that plagued Platner’s campaign. This period of suppressed coverage, the study suggests, coincided with a time when Platner was perceived as a strong contender against incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins.
Allegations of a Coordinated News Blackout
The MRC’s findings indicate that for approximately seven months, Apple News and Google News failed to promote a significant number of articles—estimated at over 112—published by outlets critical of Platner. These suppressed stories reportedly covered various scandals, including allegations related to a Nazi tattoo and offensive posts made on Reddit. The study posits that this editorial silence began shortly after an October 2023 poll indicated Platner’s potential to unseat Senator Collins. The alleged suppression, according to the MRC, only concluded following a May 30 report by The New York Times that brought renewed attention to Platner’s controversies, specifically a sexting scandal.
David Bozell, President of the MRC, characterized the tech platforms’ actions as a “protection racket.” He stated, “For months, while Platner looked like the one Democrat who could beat Susan Collins, the two most powerful news apps in America buried scandal after scandal. Then the polls turned, Platner became a liability, and suddenly the blackout ended. News judgment had nothing to do with it.” Bozell further contended that millions of smartphone users were “denied the truth” while Platner remained politically viable, only gaining access to the information once he was no longer considered a significant threat.
Platform Responses and Platner’s Withdrawal
Both Google and Apple faced scrutiny over their news aggregation practices. A spokesperson for Google contested the study’s conclusions, suggesting that the MRC “mistakes volume of news for bias” and criticized the methodology. The company asserted that the study’s approach of checking Google News only once daily from a single account failed to account for the platform’s continuous updates and personalized content delivery. Google also highlighted that users can customize their news sources within the app and search engine.
Apple did not immediately provide a comment when approached for a statement. Meanwhile, Graham Platner officially withdrew from the Maine Senate race on Friday. This decision followed public allegations of sexual misconduct from two of his former partners. Platner has consistently denied all accusations leveled against him.
Details of the Allegations Against Platner
One of Platner’s former partners, Jennifer Racicot, detailed an alleged incident in 2021 where Platner purportedly entered her home uninvited while intoxicated and sexually assaulted her. Another former partner, Lyndsey Fifield, claimed that during their relationship between 2013 and 2015, Platner engaged in “stealthing”—repeatedly having sex without a condom despite prior agreement, and doing so without her knowledge or consent. Stealthing is now a criminal offense in several states.
Fifield had previously spoken out about alleged physical abuse, recounting an incident where Platner allegedly twisted her arm behind her back, forced her into a bedroom, and held the door shut from the outside, preventing her from leaving. This account was reportedly shared in an interview with The New York Times.
Despite the mounting controversies, it was only after Racicot’s interview with Politico that Democratic party figures began to withdraw their support from Platner. Platner, who had secured a decisive victory in the Democratic primary election the previous month, announced his intention to formally remove his name from the ballot. This move aims to provide the Maine Democratic Party an opportunity to select a replacement candidate in hopes of challenging Senator Collins in the upcoming November election.
Broader Implications for News Aggregation
The study’s allegations raise broader questions about the role and editorial control of major technology platforms in shaping public discourse. By aggregating news from various sources, platforms like Apple News and Google News wield significant influence over what information reaches millions of users. Critics argue that the algorithms and editorial decisions, whether intentional or not, can inadvertently create echo chambers or suppress critical reporting, particularly concerning political figures or sensitive issues.
The MRC’s study suggests a potential for bias in how these platforms curate and present news, particularly when political stakes are high. The timing of the alleged suppression, coinciding with Platner’s perceived strength as a challenger, and its cessation after his political viability waned, forms the core of the watchdog group’s argument. The debate highlights the ongoing tension between the business models of tech giants and the public’s right to access comprehensive and unbiased information, especially during critical electoral periods.
