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British newspaper groups have issued a stern warning to Apple, cautioning against the implementation of a proposed "web eraser" tool that could block advertisements and jeopardize the financial stability of journalism, as reported by the Financial Times on Sunday.
According to the report, Apple is gearing up to introduce an AI-based privacy feature in the Safari browser with its upcoming iOS 18 software update. This feature is designed to automatically remove ads and other unwanted website content.
The News Media Association (NMA), representing industry interests, expressed apprehensions about the potential impact of this tool on digital revenues in the sector.
The Financial Times cited a letter sent to Apple's UK government affairs chief on Friday, where the NMA emphasized the crucial role of advertising as a key revenue stream for many publishers.
In the letter, the NMA also voiced concerns regarding editorial accountability if artificial intelligence tools were employed to selectively alter or remove content from articles.
Seeking to address these concerns, the NMA has called for a meeting between publishers and Apple to deliberate on the potential ramifications of the proposed web eraser tool.
As of now, Apple and the NMA have not responded to Reuters' request for comment on the matter.
The NMA is an association representing UK-based national, regional, and local news media organizations, according to its official website.
