CNN Blames Apple for Apple News Bug That Caused Repeat Notifications

[MacRumors]

Earlier this afternoon, a bug with the Apple News app caused notifications for a single CNN news story to be sent out to iPhone and iPad users over and over again.

The issue, which lasted for approximately 15 minutes, appears to have impacted all Apple News subscribers who had alerts turned on for CNN based on a slew of complaints that popped up on reddit, Twitter, and the MacRumors forums.

It wasn't clear if the problem was with CNN or the Apple News app, but on Twitter, CNN claims it was the latter. According to the news organization, CNN only sent a single notification, and the company is working with Apple to identify the problem.

We are aware that some Apple News users recently received multiples of the same alert. Our server log shows CNN sent only one. We are working with Apple to identify their issue, as users on CNN-owned platforms did not experience a problem. Apologies to those who did. - CNN Communications (@CNNPR) January 30, 2018

Customers who were affected by the repeated notifications received somewhere around a hundred notifications, and the notifications in question were interrupting normal device operation. It appears that the issue centered around a single CNN news story, but we've also seen reports that some notifications from Fox News also repeated.

@MacRumors is anyone getting nonstop @CNN alerts about the Hawaii false alert? I have the alert turned off and still getting them. pic.twitter.com/zKLeDMhng7 - Tom Cheung (@tommyknockrs) January 30, 2018

The only fix for the issue at the time was to turn off Apple News notifications, but the problem was resolved by Apple quickly and customers who did turn off their notifications due to the CNN alert bug can now safely re-enable them.

Article Link: CNN Blames Apple for Apple News Bug That Caused Repeat Notifications

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

And yet, countless other users of Apple News haven't had any issues. So somehow this is a bug that only impacts CNN but is Apple's fault?

Not seeing multiple notifications on any of my sites that also push to Apple News.

 

[Jonathan7877]

I have it happening with Fox News alert as well repeatitively.

 

[archvile]

I've been getting them for other subscribed channels, so it's not just CNN. They started earlier this afternoon, then stopped, then started up again about 15 minutes ago. So it seems like something on Apple's servers. I finally just turned off notifications for News entirely.

Edit - to add, it was the same news notification both earlier and then recently, it wasn't different stories.

 

[farewelwilliams]

so much irony happening

 

[Sharkoneau]

That was an awful spell. I had to turn News notifications off entirely to calm my phone down.

 

[ebernet]

I thought someone was trolling given the content of the CNN notification I kept on getting about false notifications lol

 

[now i see it]

I wasn't aware that anyone used the Apple News app any more.

 

[UL2RA]

I wasn't aware that anyone used the Apple News app any more.

I don't use it, but I have the notifications for the app turned on ... and I got bombarded with a trillion notifications today for the same thing. Just turned off the notifications for the app.

 

[Lone Deranger]

With Apple's current track record of software quality (read: lack thereof), it's likely a safe bet.

 

[springsup]

The worker who triggered CNN's false repeated news alerts has been fired. An FCC report say...

 

[iMi]

It happened to me. Same notification coming up repeatedly. I just turned off notifications for Apple news. That did it.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

Oh, I thought they were still looking for MH370...

 

[mariusignorello]

This one requires more investigation on both sides.

 

[rustbat]

I had the same thing happen with CNN. Asked a friend if he was having issues with the CNN app (didn’t realize it was the news app until I couldn’t find the CNN app. Only problem was the alerts were going off on my watch! It was so frustrating! It eventually stopped, only for Fox News to start up! I was like F this! I powered off my phone and forgot to turn it back on. Realized an hour later. Luckily I was at work and didn’t need my phone for anything super important.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I had notifications for news off and my wife had them on - neither of us got the notifications - nor did any of my family. I guess none of us have turned on CNN notifications. lol.

 

[budselectjr]

Someone prolly hit the wrong button

 

[scrapesleon]

HAHA cnn taking a bite out the Apple

 

[ke-iron]

I wasn't aware that anyone used the Apple News app any more.

The Apple news app is great. You should give it a shot.

 

[LoveToMacRumors]

Cnn want to make sure that specific news goes through

 

[pika2000]

I guess this is a way for CNN to get some people to notice them.

 

[PhoenixDown]

Fox News had the same issue

 

[gijoeinla]

I have it happening with Fox News alert as well repeatitively.

Now if it was from Fox News that would be banana pants

 

[JosephAW]

Must be an iOS 11 bug. Hadn't had any problem with FoxNews app on iOS 10. Have notifications off for CNN.

 

[BaccaBossMC]

Ironic