Apple Will Not Distribute 'Porn' and Other Inappropriate Content

[MacRumors]

After the news broke that the first iPhone application with nudity was released, the app was quickly removed from the App Store. Despite the developer initially claiming that it was removed voluntarily to relieve server load, it seems that Apple may have had an active role in its removal. Apple PR told CNN that the app had been removed and that Apple will not distribute "porn" or other inappropriate content:

Apple will not distribute applications that contain inappropriate content, such as pornography. The developer of this application added inappropriate content directly from their server after the application had been approved and distributed, and after the developer had subsequently been asked to remove some offensive content. This was a direct violation of the terms of the iPhone Developer Program. The application is no longer available on the App Store.

To call this particular application "porn" is a bit of a stretch but made for good headlines across the web. The removal by Apple is is interesting, however, as Apple's rating system does seem to allow for "nudity" specifically.

Article Link: Apple Will Not Distribute 'Porn' and Other Inappropriate Content

[dukebound85]

inappropriate is so subjective

[TheShinyMac]

I think that was a good move by apple, keepin the app store clean

[applecultvictim]

Good choice apple.

I have to admit, and I am not at all ashamed, that I have watched a lot of porn in my lifetime to know both the pleasures and perils of it.

And I very much like that some places will be kept COMPLETELY free of it, since it's all over the place in every other place you look at, from emails to websites, to pretty much everywhere. As well as the quasi porn stuff that gets passed off as teenager music and mens mags these days.

Thanks for keeping things clean apple.

[aristotle]

This is a good thing. If you want porn, search for it on the web yourself. Porn is like a drug. It's a trap.

[ghostface147]

They may not be willing to allow porn on the app store (which I agree with), but at least I can make amateur porn with the SO and upload it to youporn soon. Thank you 3G S with video.

[dejo]

My question is: was Apple mad because of the actual content or because of the sneaky way the developer added new content?

[Darkroom]

that's so progressive of you, apple.

Originally Posted by aristotle

This is a good thing. If you want porn, search for it on the web yourself. Porn is like a drug. It's a trap.

1. this comment is in line with extremist muslims who claim women must cover themselves in order not to get raped. be aware that most of us have what's known as "self control".
2. Mobile Safari is great for porn searches!

[PharmD]

Originally Posted by aristotle

This is a good thing. If you want porn, search for it on the web yourself. Porn is like a drug. It's a trap.

This. Good move Apple.

[Goona]

Thank God, my little sisters like to search the app store and download apps. They don't need to be seeing that garbage.

[Hattig]

What's the point of adult age limits then?

Way to go Apple, dictate your own morality on the rest of the world, because you operate the only application store for your devices.

[SolRayz]

Originally Posted by TheShinyMac

I think that was a good move by apple, keepin the app store clean

Clean as a button. If it were me I would ban the pocket god...

[Virgil-TB2]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

... Article Link: Apple Will Not Distribute 'Porn' and Other Inappropriate Content

If this is true it's really big news. Despite what everyone thinks and what most of the tech blogs have been saying, Apple has never explicitly said what it would do in this regard. This is the first announcement to that effect.

It could also have a huge backlash since the USA is one of the most backward, prudish countries in terms of what is considered "appropriate" content. For Apple to universally disallow programs and imagery to adults, which is actually considered okay for children in the rest of the world is nothing short of outrageous.

It's also incredibly hypocritical. The USA decides for he rest of the world what is okay and what is not okay?

I don't believe this is actually true or "the whole story" in that (without exaggeration) this could literally sink the iPhone as a desirable product if the regional stores and the countries in which the product is on sale don't have any control over the content.

[imwoblin]

This kind of stuff always cracks me up. Showing women in bikinis posing provocatively and artistic nudity always seems to terrify Americans, while showing killing and mayhem and doctors picking through human remains while cracking jokes on the autopsy table seems the norm (just turn the tv on any channel in prime time). Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy violence and mayhem probably a little more than most folks (USMC Force Recon 8 years), but enough already.

[sam011989]

so now the question is.......will people who bought the app at any point sense the initial release of the app get a refund?

I'd love to hear the legalities of this if they dont

[macduke]

I'm glad that it's not in there simply for the reason of it coming up while browsing the app store or while looking at the newest apps on appshopper.com. If you're so addicted that you need porn on the go then you should go get some therapy. Stuff like that should be kept in the privacy of your own home. I don't want some guy touching himself while I'm riding the bus. Although sometimes that happens regardless.

[applecultvictim]

Originally Posted by imwoblin

This kind of stuff always cracks me up. Showing women in bikinis posing provocatively and artistic nudity always seems to terrify Americans, while showing killing and mayhem and doctors picking through human remains while cracking jokes on the autopsy table seems the norm (just turn the tv on any channel in prime time). Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy violence and mayhem probably a little more than most folks (USMC Force Recon 8 years), but enough already.

that's a very good point, but apple can't be expected to overturn social modes that are age old. We are talking of the most puritanical society in the states here, i.e. hypocritical in these matters.

[Gasu E.]

The most interesting aspect of this item will be watching the "positive" and "negative" votes roll in...

**Al Gore 2000**

[longofest]

Apple seems to once again be contradicting themselves when it comes to their acceptance guidelines. Why have a category for nudity and not allow porn? In my book, the app in question was indeed soft-porn, yet was classified as nudity... both of which were applicable.

Personally, I am in favor of Apple not approving explicit porn (people can just go onto the web if they want it, after all), but they do need to come up with much clearer guidelines.

[Queso]

Originally Posted by aristotle

This is a good thing. If you want porn, search for it on the web yourself. Porn is like a drug. It's a trap.

I disagree. There are a small minority that get addicted to it, but most people can watch a little bit without it taking over their lives.

[ghostface147]

Originally Posted by imwoblin

Showing women in bikinis posing provocatively and artistic nudity always seems to terrify Americans, while showing killing and mayhem and doctors picking through human remains while cracking jokes on the autopsy table seems the norm (just turn the tv on any channel in prime time). Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy violence and mayhem probably a little more than most folks (USMC Force Recon 8 years), but enough already.

Agreed. America is very backwards in it's decency. Protect the kids from sex, porn and the such, but showing a corpse getting autopsied is ok. Imagine if the american Maxim magazine was as fun as the UK version, the censors here would flip.

[Bosunsfate]

Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2

If this is true it's really big news. Despite what everyone thinks and what most of the tech blogs have been saying, Apple has never explicitly said what it would do in this regard. This is the first announcement to that effect.

I don't think this is correct. I seem to recall that Steve Jobs was pretty explicit in the original launch of the App Store, which was that Porn would not be allowed.

[jaw04005]

A company like Apple doesn't want the reputation of promoting questionable material (including soft porn, etc). However, they also don't want the impression that they're censoring application developers.

They're damned if they do and damned if they don't. I don't know what the balance is. Being a gatekeeper is hard work.

[Sir Pancakes]

Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2

I don't believe this is actually true or "the whole story" in that (without exaggeration) this could literally sink the iPhone as a desirable product if the regional stores and the countries in which the product is on sale don't have any control over the content.

Please tell me you're trolling. That argument makes zero sense.

no porn apps = iphone sinkage?

[TheShinyMac]

Originally Posted by SolRayz

Clean as a button. If it were me I would ban the pocket god...

I have pocket god and I think that the developer is lucky it made it on ,there is no blood yet and its ment to be a comical app not a shooter or just a violent version of the sims