iPhone Update to Silence GOP? Republicans Fear Fundraising Block!
Apple's iOS 26: A Silent Threat to Republican Fundraising?
A new iPhone update slated for September is causing a stir among Republicans, who fear it will disproportionately impact their fundraising and voter outreach efforts. The update, iOS 26, includes an updated text filtration system that could filter messages from unknown numbers into a separate folder, effectively silencing outreach attempts.
Sean Dollman, founding partner of American Made Media Company, the parent company of Launchpad Strategies, which served as the exclusive digital firm for Trump's 2024 campaign, voiced strong concerns. "It’s no surprise that Big Tech wants to stop Donald Trump and other Republicans from communicating with people, because they’ve tried every other method to interfere already," Dollman told Fox News Digital.
He added, "Big Tech has suppressed him, suspended him, and banned him outright. And now they’re trying to make it so he can’t text anybody either. But MAGA won’t be stopped, and MAGA will always find a way."
The update's filtration system will siphon text messages from unknown numbers (those without a chat history with the recipient) into a separate folder, without generating a notification. Messages from saved contacts will function as normal. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of Republican campaigns that heavily rely on texting for fundraising and voter mobilization.
According to reports, Republicans relied on text messaging twice as much as Democrats during the 2024 election cycle, making them particularly vulnerable to the update's potential impact. Whether this is intentional or not, the implications for political communication are significant.
The Bigger Picture: Big Tech and Political Influence
This isn't the first time Republicans have raised concerns about Big Tech's influence on elections. Accusations of censorship and bias have become increasingly common, with some claiming tech companies are actively working to silence conservative voices. The situation also follows claims that Google's Gmail censorship cost GOP candidates $2B since 2019.
- The update filters messages from unknown numbers.
- Republicans rely heavily on text messaging.
- Concerns about Big Tech bias persist.