500px's Photo Sharing App Pulled From App Store Over Nude Photos

MacRumors · Jan 22, 2013, 04:11 PM

As TechCrunch reports, Apple has pulled photo sharing app 500px for iOS from the App Store because of concerns over nude photos. Though the company says that its recent acquisition ISO500 for 500px from Pulpfingers was also removed from the App Store, it remains available for download.

500px is a popular website for both professional and amateur photographers, and according to 500px COO Evgeny Tchebotarev, the company's mobile apps have been downloaded by more than a million users. TechCrunch has a rundown on what happened:

Quote:

The apps were pulled from the App Store this morning around 1 AM Eastern, and had completely disappeared by noon today. The move came shortly after last night's discussions with Apple related to an updated version of 500px for iOS, which was in the hands of an App Store reviewer.

The Apple reviewer told the company that the update couldn't be approved because it allowed users to search for nude photos in the app. This is correct to some extent, but 500px had actually made it tough to do so, explains Tchebotarev. New users couldn't just launch the app and locate the nude images, he says, the way you can today on other social photo-sharing services like Instagram or Tumblr, for instance. Instead, the app defaulted to a "safe search" mode where these types of photos were hidden. To shut off safe search, 500px actually required its users to visit their desktop website and make an explicit change.

Tchebotarev said the company did this because they don't want kids or others to come across these nude photos unwittingly. "Some people are mature enough to see these photos," he says, "but by default it's safe."

According to Tchebotarev, 500px does not allow explicit pornographic images, and he explains that most of the nude images on 500px are "artistic."

Though the app has been in the App Store for 16 months, it runs off of the 500px site, which is currently limited to community moderation for inappropriate photos. 500px is working on a solution that will automatically flag questionable photos to prevent them from appearing in searches, but the technology is not yet finished.

Flickr, Tumblr, and other photo sites that function in the same way, with user-based moderation, remain available in the App Store.

500px has created a fix to address the nude photo issue, which has already been submitted to Apple and could result in the return of the apps to the App Store shortly.

Article Link: 500px's Photo Sharing App Pulled From App Store Over Nude Photos

Northgrove · Jan 22, 2013, 04:12 PM

So when are Apple going to pull the Flickr app?

Flickr has tons of nude photo groups, often more explicit than the 500px variety.

SvP · Jan 22, 2013, 04:13 PM

So, apple: who don't you block the interwebs? put a nice wall around it..?
i don't need a nanny, and especially not a prude like apple.

Island Dog · Jan 22, 2013, 04:13 PM

So stupid.

wrkactjob · Jan 22, 2013, 04:13 PM

Nudity?....disgusting!!

Kerber0s34 · Jan 22, 2013, 04:14 PM

They should pull Safari too. There are tons of "nude" pictures in it.

ovrlrd · Jan 22, 2013, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerber0s34

They should pull Safari too. There are tons of "nude" pictures in it.

Exactly

iMikeT · Jan 22, 2013, 04:14 PM

Damn, I was hoping MacRumors would post thumbnails of these nude photos so the internet can be the judge of what's obscene online.

GoCubsGo · Jan 22, 2013, 04:15 PM

Oh no! Not boobies!

nepalisherpa · Jan 22, 2013, 04:15 PM

I figured this was going to happen sooner or later!

Renzatic · Jan 22, 2013, 04:15 PM

Quote:

The Apple reviewer told the company that the update couldn't be approved because it allowed users to search for nude photos in the app.

Apple Inc. They're more about the apps, less about the areolas.

Northgrove · Jan 22, 2013, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerber0s34

They should pull Safari too. There are tons of "nude" pictures in it.

Yeah, this is the problem when you apply the "But the app can show nude photos!" mentality. You can easily get Flipboard full of nudity too. Just subscribe to RSS feeds with nudity. Oh no, it actually supports doing this?! How horrible...

This app submission rule should really only apply to apps with a specific goal of showing erotica. 500px's goal is showing art and photos. Flickr's too. Same with Flipboard. Or Twitter. They all support showing erotic photos, but it's not a narrowed down goal.

Seppentoni · Jan 22, 2013, 04:16 PM

Does that mean I can't wank anymore when waiting on the train?

heehee · Jan 22, 2013, 04:17 PM

OMG! Think of the children!

Botts85 · Jan 22, 2013, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

Flickr, Tumblr, and other photo sites that function in the same way, with user-based moderation, remain available in the App Store.

Calling tumblr moderated, is like calling the Wild West a "Peaceful Community".

Roessnakhan · Jan 22, 2013, 04:19 PM

roadbloc · Jan 22, 2013, 04:19 PM

Sounds like Apple would succeed better if they just blocked the internet from their devices. But even then, people can still take pictures of nudes.

Talk about fighting a pointless battle.

Renzatic · Jan 22, 2013, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seppentoni

Does that mean I can't wank anymore when waiting on the train?

You still can, but you can't use your iPhone as a...er...supplemental tool anymore. You'll have to bring a magazine.

...LIKE THE REST OF US!

IJ Reilly · Jan 22, 2013, 04:20 PM

It's nudes to me.

macsrcool1234 · Jan 22, 2013, 04:20 PM

Ahh the Apple app store....king of ambiguous and ill enforced rules.

JarScott · Jan 22, 2013, 04:21 PM

It's nice to see Apple upholding their quality control on not only hardware but also software and apps, but I hope it doesn't get to the point (if not already) where they become too restrictive and controlling. They have every right to do so, but that can't be good. It's probably also the reason people call iOS "closed."

Otterblue · Jan 22, 2013, 04:21 PM

Maybe it was because of the 4+ age rating it had?

AppleScruff1 · Jan 22, 2013, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renzatic

Apple Inc. They're more about the apps, less about the areolas.

LOL! Apple doesn't like naked women? Or maybe they don't like art?

Lesser Evets · Jan 22, 2013, 04:23 PM

I just go on Flickr and look up "TI--... I mean A FRIEND OF MINE just goes on Flickr and looks up "TITS".

Dr McKay · Jan 22, 2013, 04:24 PM

They can't pull every app that could possibly show nudity, instagram, Flickr and many others would disappear too.

Jan 22, 2013, 04:12 PM	#2
Northgrove macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2010	So when are Apple going to pull the Flickr app? Flickr has tons of nude photo groups, often more explicit than the 500px variety. __________________ iPhone 5 • rMBP 15" (2012)
	39

Jan 22, 2013, 04:13 PM	#3
SvP macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2009	So, apple: who don't you block the interwebs? put a nice wall around it..? i don't need a nanny, and especially not a prude like apple.
	44

Jan 22, 2013, 04:13 PM	#4
Island Dog macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: St. Cloud, FL.	So stupid. __________________ www.theappnews.com
	23

Jan 22, 2013, 04:13 PM	#5
wrkactjob Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England.	Nudity?....disgusting!! __________________ iP5 + iPm4G.
	16

Jan 22, 2013, 04:14 PM	#6
Kerber0s34 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC	They should pull Safari too. There are tons of "nude" pictures in it.
	97

Jan 22, 2013, 04:14 PM	#8
iMikeT macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: California	Damn, I was hoping MacRumors would post thumbnails of these nude photos so the internet can be the judge of what's obscene online.
	22

Jan 22, 2013, 04:15 PM	#9
GoCubsGo macrumors Nehalem Join Date: Feb 2005	Oh no! Not boobies! __________________ Because I'm an ahole.
	21

Jan 22, 2013, 04:15 PM	#10
nepalisherpa macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: USA	I figured this was going to happen sooner or later! __________________ Mid-2010 13" MBP/128GB Crucial M4 SSD/250GB Stock HDD/8GB RAM/Dual Boot: OS X 10.8.2 & Windows 7 Professional iPhone 5 32GB Black iPad 2 32GB WiFi Black
	0

Jan 22, 2013, 04:16 PM	#13
Seppentoni macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Europe	Does that mean I can't wank anymore when waiting on the train?
	6

Jan 22, 2013, 04:17 PM	#14
heehee macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Same country as Santa Claus	OMG! Think of the children!
	4

Jan 22, 2013, 04:19 PM	#16
Roessnakhan macrumors 68030 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albuquerque, USA	__________________ "I reject your reality and substitute my own." - Adam Savage portfolio \| twitter \| flickr \| last.fm Retina MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPad mini, iPhone 5, AppleTV, iPod Classic
	31

Jan 22, 2013, 04:19 PM	#17
roadbloc macrumors 603 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK	Sounds like Apple would succeed better if they just blocked the internet from their devices. But even then, people can still take pictures of nudes. Talk about fighting a pointless battle. __________________ Roadbloc
	22

Jan 22, 2013, 04:20 PM	#19
IJ Reilly macrumors G5 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Palookaville	It's nudes to me. __________________ **The season starts too early and finishes too late and there are too many games in between.* Bill Veeck
	6

Jan 22, 2013, 04:20 PM	#20
macsrcool1234 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2010	Ahh the Apple app store....king of ambiguous and ill enforced rules.
	9

Jan 22, 2013, 04:21 PM	#21
JarScott macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2011 Location: England, UK	It's nice to see Apple upholding their quality control on not only hardware but also software and apps, but I hope it doesn't get to the point (if not already) where they become too restrictive and controlling. They have every right to do so, but that can't be good. It's probably also the reason people call iOS "closed."
	1

Jan 22, 2013, 04:21 PM	#22
Otterblue macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Canada	Maybe it was because of the 4+ age rating it had?
	4

Jan 22, 2013, 04:23 PM	#24
Lesser Evets macrumors 68030 Join Date: Jan 2006	I just go on Flickr and look up "TI--... I mean A FRIEND OF MINE just goes on Flickr and looks up "TITS". __________________ 2x1.86 BSEL Pro 1,1; 5770; 16GB RAM; 1•3TB/2•1TB/2•2TB SATA; 128GB Startup SSD; 30" & 20" C.Displays; OSX 10.7.5; Sound Sticks; 1TB TimeMach
	6

Jan 22, 2013, 04:24 PM	#25
Dr McKay macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kirkland	They can't pull every app that could possibly show nudity, instagram, Flickr and many others would disappear too. __________________ Difficult takes a few seconds; impossible, a few minutes
	7

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