iOS 26's new message filtering feature has politicians worried

iOS 26's New Message Filtering Feature

Apple's iOS 26 operating system has added a new message filtering feature in the Messages app, giving users the option to hide messages from "Unknown Senders" in a separate tab.

Punchbowl News (citing Daring Fireball and Political Wire) reports that Republicans in Washington, DC are really worried about the impact this new feature could have on fundraising, warning that it “could cost them $25 million in lost fundraising revenue.”

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) expressed deep concern

A memo was sent out by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) last week, coinciding with the release of the public beta of iOS 26.

Daring Fireball's John Gruber obtained a full copy of the memo, in which the NRSC says the changes in iOS 26 "have profound implications for our ability to raise money, mobilize voters, and run digital campaigns."

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) sent out a memo shortly after the public beta of iOS 26 was released, warning that the new feature could cost the NRSC more than $25 million in fundraising revenue alone. With 70 percent of small donations coming from text messages and 60 percent of mobile devices in the U.S. being iPhones, the overall impact could exceed $500 million for Republicans.

The NRSC said that the filtering feature severely affects the ability to raise money, mobilize voters, and conduct digital campaigns. Election campaign messages, voter persuasion messages, quick response messages, and election reminders are all placed in the “Unknown sender” tab without notification. This makes it difficult to get feedback from voters, because users are unlikely to recognize the messages unless they actively check.

The feature will impact not only political fundraising groups but also marketing messages and advertising from brands. Organizations will need to be more creative in how they reach users. The NRSC called for immediate action to address the issue, stressing that time is limited to change.

9to5Mac notes that this is one of the most practical features of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26, helping users avoid being bothered by unwanted messages. The fact that this feature makes it difficult for political fundraising campaigns is seen as a side benefit, affecting both political parties equally.