BBC vs. Apple: The Battle Over AI-Generated Fake News

The BBC has filed a formal complaint with Apple over AI-generated fake news that was shared on iPhones and falsely attributed to the broadcaster. Notifications from Apple Intelligence, a new product launched in the UK this week, inaccurately suggested the BBC published an article claiming that Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the murder of a healthcare executive in New York, had killed himself.

Apple Intelligence, designed to generate grouped notifications from multiple information sites using AI, appears to have produced fabricated headlines that undermined the BBC’s credibility. A BBC spokesperson emphasized the importance of trust in their journalism, stating: “BBC News is the most trusted news media in the world. It is essential to us that our audiences can trust any information or journalism published in our name, and that includes notifications.”

The spokesperson confirmed that the BBC had contacted Apple to address the issue and requested a fix. A similar incident reportedly involved notifications attributed to the New York Times, though this has not been confirmed by the US publisher.

The incident highlights the risks of relying on AI to generate and distribute news, raising critical questions about accountability and the safeguards required to protect the integrity of trusted media brands.

References

• The Guardian (2024). BBC says it has complained to Apple over AI-generated fake news attributed to broadcaster. Available online. Accessed: 18 December 2024.