Stewart reveals Apple’s request to exclude FTC Chair Lina Khan from podcast appearance
By Wes Davis, a weekend editor specializing in tech and entertainment news. With a background in tech journalism since 2020, Wes covers the latest developments in the industry.
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Following the discontinuation of The Problem With Jon Stewart on Apple TV Plus, Jon Stewart has gradually unveiled the strained dynamics between himself and Apple. During a recent interview with FTC Chair Lina Khan on The Daily Show regarding tech giants and antitrust issues, Stewart disclosed that Apple had explicitly requested him not to engage with her on his podcast.
The interview segment is highly recommended for viewing. Stewart’s critique in the initial part of the episode mocked the exaggerated claims made by tech corporations about artificial intelligence, juxtaposed with clips of tech executives discussing AI’s capacity to replace human jobs or rationalizing AI-driven layoffs. Subsequently, his conversation with Khan shed light on the interference from his former employer.
Stewart expressed his surprise, stating, “I didn’t think they cared for you,” referring to Apple’s reluctance to even showcase the satirical AI segment from the show. He questioned the underlying apprehension, pondering why Apple shied away from open dialogues on such topics in the public domain.
In response, Khan, who assumed the role of FTC Chair in 2021, emphasized the risks associated with consolidating power and decision-making within a limited number of corporate entities. Known for her staunch stance against antitrust practices, particularly within the tech sector, Khan signaled the FTC’s commitment to scrutinizing “business models that centralize control and profits.” Recent actions by the agency include antitrust litigations against Amazon and Microsoft, alongside ongoing investigations into the investments of these companies (as well as Google) in OpenAI and Anthropic.
Meanwhile, Apple finds itself entangled in a legal tussle with the Department of Justice, which recently filed a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of engaging in anticompetitive conduct concerning the App Store, Apple Watch, and messaging services. Additionally, Apple has been revising its strategy towards its software ecosystem in the EU, where it has been designated as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act of the region.
The partnership between Stewart and Apple concluded prematurely after just two seasons of his show, attributed initially to “creative disparities.” In a February interview on CBS Mornings, Stewart hinted that Apple axed the show partly due to his intentions to explore themes like AI and China.
Apple’s intricate connections with China, a pivotal market for manufacturing and consumer outreach, have led to notable concessions such as restricting the Chinese App Store to exclude US applications like YouTube and implementing limitations on AirDrop following its exploitation for disseminating protest messages in the nation. While Apple has yet to unveil its AI strategies, an announcement is anticipated at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
