Apple Will Not Distribute 'Porn' and Other Inappropriate Content

[Timo_Existencia]

I think Apple has potentially opened themselves up for a lawsuit. Sure, they are a private company, but I think this issue is more complex than that.

As some have pointed out, Apple sells explicit material through the iTunes store by way of movies and other video content. I can go on there and buy what many on this thread would consider pornography. Apple is allowing that opportunity to movie studios, but not to app developers. They produce and sell (indirectly) the Safari browser on the iPhone which can access porn, but don't allow independent apps that can access porn.

The iPhone is a computer. Can you imagine if Apple controlled the sales of every application that you could run on your computer? If Apple were the sole determiner of what is or is not appropriate for you?

The question is not whether Apple should be selling porn or not, it is whether Apple should be in the business of determining what is or is not appropriate with any measure of consistency (Movies OK, Apps NOT). I wouldn't want to be in that business, and I'm guessing Apple will slowly move away from it with time as well.

 

[i.mac]

...


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.

err on the side of caution and on the side of children. Not too difficult.

When a person has young children, decisions are made in their favor, even if this puts your own needs in peril. Not too difficult to do.

Now, imagine that SJ daughter comes across nudity on an app from the store... again, not a difficult decision.

 

[macduke]

Apple doesn't restrict such content on iTunes, why would it restrict such content on iPhone.

Double standards.

Apple - the user can decide for themselves, they don't require nannying.

Can you please send me a link? Because I'm having trouble finding the "Porn" section of the iTunes store.

 

[Lokheed]

I applaud Apple's move. There is plenty of porn in this planet, and it's readily available to those that just can't keep their grubby little hands off themselves.

I fear that if porn is allowed, it will flood the App Store. Many of them polluting the top listings and having users wade through the debauchery to find useful apps. And frankly, I don't see the point. If you want porn on your iPhone so bad, just sync your porn directory. The iPhone handles movies and pictures just fine.

I'm not in favour of censorship, I have porn on my MBP, I do masturbate, and I'm not some pious nut... but I can tell the difference between freedom of speech and what is socially appropriate. There is nothing morally wrong with wearing a black bikini to a funeral, but no one does it because it's a faux-pas. We live in a society and sometimes you have to think of others and not only yourselves.

There is no reason we need sleaze on the iPhone. If you desperately want the cheap thrills of gawking at women in skimpy cloths on a 3" screen, then I'd say you have issues. If your argument is that Apple is censoring your life and encroaching on your freedoms, then I'd say you are incredibly myopic and need to reflect on matters a little harder.

This issue is a win/no-loss situation. On the one hand, you keep nudity off a device that children and young adults use. The potential for emotional harm is there. That's a win. On the other hand, you deprive brainless and easy access to content that some of your user base wants, but does not need. The emotional harm is no there, especially considering there are so many alternatives available. That's not much of a loss. It's a good, logical decision.

 

[moka]

i agree 100% with apples decision, its their choice deal with it, after reading some of your responses here a lot of you seem very desperate about this and wanting porn on your iPhones, it just scares me.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

Can you please send me a link? Because I'm having trouble finding the "Porn" section of the iTunes store.

Just look for any label that says "explicit" or "R" or similar.

 

[NinjaHERO]

You own and control your car. If you started a business where you promised to drive around with a paid message on your car, you'd be allowed to refuse service if you didn't like a message someone wanted to pay you to put on your car.

Again, you attempt to spin part of my reply. I don't think you are helping your cause. Let me make it clear for you.

I am against censorship. I am for freedom. I believe every person and company has the freedom to say or sell or not say or not sell anything they chose. I believe every person has the freedom to complain about anything a company does. Hence everyone on this board has the right to complain for either side. Macrumors has the right to censor us.

So where am I losing you??

 

[corinhorn]

Apple doesn't restrict such content on iTunes, why would it restrict such content on iPhone.

Double standards.

Apple - the user can decide for themselves, they don't require nannying.

I can see it as a double standard, but I can also see it another way.

If Apple block nipple apps, they only piss off some nipple fans and some developers. If they block the movies with nipples in them and songs with expletives in them, suddenly they will piss off the movie and music industry. They have lobbies and bullies

Developers of apps can't really do a damn thing to Apple since it is Apple who sets the app standards as conflicting as they may seem to be.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

i agree 100% with apples decision, its their choice deal with it, after reading some of your responses here a lot of you seem very desperate about this and wanting porn on your iPhones, it just scares me.

I don't use porn. Would never carry it on my iPhone, but am concerned about having Apple decide what is and is not appropriate content to be used on the computer that I have purchased from them. Especially since they are not being consistent in their cencorship, allowing musicians to sell explicit material, movies studios to sell explicit material, but not app developers.

 

[DinoMachino]

Whoah, pot, I'd like you to meet kettle

That's such a loser that they just gotta have their personal flavor of smut at arms length on a moments notice to view on their phone. However, I can see how the dregs of society must have something to keep his hand busy when stuck in traffic

may I remind you of two things:

A.the concept of "novelty"
B.the Internet

the app was more a novelty with it's airbrushed funbags. Which is why I bought it, novelty.

And the Internet, well, it's in the palm of every iPhone owners hand, and I'm willing to bet there still aren't many sticky iPhones, even the iPhones that belong to us "dregs" who enjoy a boobie now and then. It's just not feasable. I mean like, the more you get into it, the more your hand holding the phone shakes... Makes it tough.

Anyways, the app probably doesn't need tone in the store because it's a crap-app, or "crapp" if you will. All it did was bring pictures up from a server. It was a glorified web page. If you feel like you missed out on this one, just put a link on your home screen to youporn or something.

Personally, I could care less about the adult nature of it (clearly) however I'm just disappointed that apple keeps letting these crapps in the store in the first place.

They need a new rule for all developers to follow: "you must be THIS USEFUL to ride the store." come on apple, keep the crapps out.

 

[mattwolfmatt]

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

It will still work for them, I think.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

If you desperately want the cheap thrills of gawking at women in skimpy cloths on a 3" screen, then I'd say you have issues.

If I were to watch a movie that contains nudity or sexual content, would you suggest that I have "issues?" Would you be happy if Apple refused to sell any movie that contained a nipple?

 

[diamond.g]

Can you please send me a link? Because I'm having trouble finding the "Porn" section of the iTunes store.

TruBlood is pretty close. It appears to be the top TV Show on iTunes as well...

 

[WestonHarvey1]

ok

Again, you attempt to spin part of my reply. I don't think you are helping your cause. Let me make it clear for you.

I am against censorship. I am for freedom. I believe every person and company has the freedom to say or sell or not say or not sell anything they chose. I believe every person has the freedom to complain about anything a company does. Hence everyone on this board has the right to complain for either side. Macrumors has the right to censor us.

So where am I losing you??

I guess you're not. I guess we agree. I suppose it is important to distinguish "censorship" and "capital-C Censorship", one that is a free choice not to publish or say something or offer something based on its content, and one that is done by external fiat and backed up by force (government censorship).

The former can elicit legitimate arguments and pleas and boycotts and whatnot, the latter should be condemned by free peoples.

 

[Lokheed]

If I were to watch a movie that contains nudity or sexual content, would you suggest that I have "issues?" Would you be happy if Apple refused to sell any movie that contained a nipple?

We aren't talking about movies. We are talking about static images; nothing more. Big difference. You're comparing apples to oranges.

 

[lignsligns]

we're all nude under our clothes

 

[diamond.g]

I can see it as a double standard, but I can also see it another way.

If Apple block nipple apps, they only piss off some nipple fans and some developers. If they block the movies with nipples in them and songs with expletives in them, suddenly they will piss off the movie and music industry. They have lobbies and bullies

Developers of apps can't really do a damn thing to Apple since it is Apple who sets the app standards as conflicting as they may seem to be.

Then maybe App Developers need Lobbyists and LawyersBullies.

 

[Blue Fox]

Porn is the last thing I want to flood the App Store with. There are already thousands of pointless apps poluting the store already.

Want porn? You have Safari for that.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

What if...

I'm going to develop an app that merely shows screen grabs from available movie and tv shows in the iTunes store. Should Apple allow me to sell this app?

 

[Treq]

Can you please send me a link? Because I'm having trouble finding the "Porn" section of the iTunes store.

TruBlood is pretty close. It appears to be the top TV Show on iTunes as well...

There is no porn on the iTunes store. Porn is X-rated and has never been available through itunes. This app was at best R-rated and therefor not porn.

 

[HyperZboy]

Damn it to hell anyhow....

Censorship is the practice of a govt entity shutting down free speech/religion.

I wish people understood what freedom really was. Apple has the freedom to do this. You have the freedom to find other sources to fulfill your rather sad hobby of watching other people having a good time.

In the immortal words of Colonel Sherman Potter in the TV show MASH...

HORSE HOCKEY!
Censorship is NOT confined to government!
Any news organization, website, or corporation can commit the same act.​

And few people have stated Apple doesn't have the freedom to do this.
Obviously they do.

The bigger question is... Is it a good business decision or a correct decision for consumers?

Religious zealots who have no porn (but probably cheat on their wives instead) and Apple Fanboys aside, I think we can say NO.

I'm gonna repeat again, VHS vs BETA. Palm are you listening???

Opportunity is knocking on your door. Please answer.​

PS: The # of absolutely dumb false comments in this thread is getting frightening.
Did Jerry Falwell's people like put out a talking points memo about this?

 

[Timo_Existencia]

We aren't talking about movies. We are talking about static images; nothing more. Big difference. You're comparing apples to oranges.

So, a static image is pornography but a moving image is not? What's your standard here? Boobs that bounce are fine, but boobs that stay still are not? I think you'll struggle to make this case, but keep trying. ;-)

 

[Timo_Existencia]

There is no porn on the iTunes store. Porn is X-rated and has never been available through itunes. This app was at best R-rated and therefor not porn.

The app that Apple denied merely showed breasts. Are you arguing that breasts in a picture is the equivalent of an x-rated movie?

 

[mastershakess]

I bought this app before the took it off, still works fine!

I find it hard to believe that the developer changed the content before it was published on the App Store. Apple knew what this App was and released, then they got tons of complains and emails so they took it off. Even the description in the App Store said it included naked photos.

I'm calling BS on the developer changing the App last minute.

 

[Treq]

The app that Apple denied merely showed breasts. Are you arguing that breasts in a picture is the equivalent of an x-rated movie?

No, the opposite in fact. This was not porn. R-rated at best. I don't know why they got rid of it.