iOS 26's new message filtering feature has politicians worried

iOS 26's New Message Filtering Feature

Apple's iOS 26 operating system 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 seriously 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 iOS 26 public beta.

John Gruber from Daring Fireball obtained a full copy of the memo, in which the NRSC says the changes in iOS 26 “have profound impacts on our ability to fundraise, 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 alone more than $25 million in fundraising revenue. With 70% of retail donations coming from text messages and 60% of mobile devices in the US being iPhones, the overall impact could exceed $500 million for Republicans.

The NRSC said the filtering feature severely impacted the ability to raise funds, mobilize voters, and conduct digital campaigns. Campaign messages, voter persuasion messages, quick response messages, and election day reminders were all placed in the “Unknown sender” tab without notification. This made it difficult to get feedback from voters, as users would have difficulty recognizing the messages without actively checking.

This 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 problem, stressing that time for change is limited.

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.