News
Apple banning ‘overtly sexual’ content from App Store?
By Charles Starrett
Contributing Editor
Published: Friday, February 19, 2010
News Categories: Apple, Apps + Games
An application removal notice sent by Apple to a developer suggests the company is cracking down on sexual content in the App Store. In the e-mail, published online by TechCrunch, Apple explains that the app “contains content that we had originally believed to be suitable for distribution. However, we have recently received numerous complaints from our customers about this type of content, and have changed our guidelines appropriately.” Apple goes on to say that it has “decided to remove any overtly sexual content from the App Store.” The report notes that attempts to purchase other sexually charged applications, such as “Exotic Positions” and “Sexy Women,” were met with errors indicating the apps were no longer available, while other applications, such as “Beautiful Boobs” and “Sex Strip” were still available for download, suggesting that Apple’s removal process of such applications may still be ongoing.
Related Stories
- Report: BBM iOS app won’t support iPad at launch
- Report: iRadio might miss WWDC debut
- Fair Labor Assoc.: Foxconn, Apple still exceed work hours
- Cook talks Apple’s taxes ahead of Senate testimony
- Apps: Can Knockdown 3, eBay 3.0/2.3, Jungle Book + Sonic the Hedgehog 2.0
- Apple releases iTunes 11.0.3 with new Mini Player
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- iLounge Weekly arriving Monday, giveaway reminder
- Report: BBM iOS app won’t support iPad at launch
- Report: iRadio might miss WWDC debut
- Fair Labor Assoc.: Foxconn, Apple still exceed work hours
- CW to bring content to Apple TV
- Moshi debuts aluminum USB Cable with Lightning Connector
- Cook talks Apple’s taxes ahead of Senate testimony
- iLuv intros Aud 5 Lightning speaker dock for iPhone 5
- Apps: Can Knockdown 3, eBay 3.0/2.3, Jungle Book + Sonic the Hedgehog 2.0
- Apple releases iTunes 11.0.3 with new Mini Player
Recent Reviews
- BlueFlame 2M Charge and Sync Cable with Lightning Connector
- HMDX Jam Party Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Speaker
- Logitech Harmony Ultimate Universal Remote Control
- MyCharge Freedom 2000 Battery Case for iPhone 5
- Nike Nike+ FuelBand
- OCDesk OCDock for iPhone 5
- Bluelounge MiniDock (With Lightning Connector)
- Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation Pro
- PhoneSuit Flex Pocket Charger
- Olloclip Quick-Flip Case + Pro-Photo Adapter for iPhone 5
Recent Articles
- Remove old iCloud backup after restoring to a new iPhone
- Setting up a ringtone in iTunes
- Using a Wi-Fi hard drive with an iPad
- Backing up and restoring an iPod classic
- Can’t restore iPod touch without passcode
- Retaining older versions of Apps during an iOS Restore
- Can’t eject iPod nano without closing Firefox
- Can’t change iTunes Apple ID to iCloud e-mail address
- Effect of erasing an iPhone on the Find My iPhone feature
- Organizing video collections on an iPad
1
*sigh* How dare Apple upset the sensitive souls of all the worlds’ Ned Flanders types.
Posted by Dale on February 19, 2010 at 8:07 AM (PST)
2
I approve. I’m 59 and I’ve seen more than my share of anatomies. What I don’t want to see are T&A apps in Utilities and the like. If Apple is smart, it will create an Adult category. The only dumb thing they did is shoot first and ask questions later.
Posted by Robert G Boulay on February 19, 2010 at 8:28 AM (PST)
3
I agree that the smarter solution would be to create an Adult store. I don’t think that the Apps should be available for anyone to purchase…there are a lot of kids out there that would be
Posted by E Ray on February 19, 2010 at 8:45 AM (PST)
4
They’ve already got parental control for applications with the equivalent of PG-13 and R ratings for apps. What more exactly are they supposed to do, put some sort of easily bypassed age check in the iTunes store itself to see a PG rated app description for an R-rated app?
This isn’t a matter of them needing an adult section, they already have the equivalent in place, it’s Apple kowtowing to the uptight citizen’s of the world regardless of safeguards already in place.
Meanwhile, I have heard rumors that on that very same computer or iPhone OS device people are accessing iPhone OS apps from that there’s this thing called “the web” that’s evidently just chock full of naked people doing all sorts of stuff to one another.
This is just pointless CYA from Apple.
Posted by Code Monkey in Midstate New York on February 19, 2010 at 9:52 AM (PST)
5
If Apple is going to take off the “Adult” content (which I am in favor of), I hope they have the intelligence to take the Playboy, SI Swimsuit, and other big name apps off of the store. If it’s about the content, then even those large names should be taken off, no matter the amount of money they pull in.
Seriously, Apple. If you’re going to be on one side of the fence, stay on it always. Don’t jump back and forth.
Posted by curtisrshideler on February 21, 2010 at 9:28 AM (PST)
6
Apple has hardly been jumping back and forth, they’ve been on the side of the prudes the whole way. Up until a few months ago they didn’t have parental controls and universal age ratings for apps, so everything was stuck at a PG or below type content. Only after there was full control for parents to allow a corporation to do their parenting for them did they relax their standards. Unfortunately, being able to avoid adult content in your own life is never enough for these sorts of busy bodies an now Apple is kowtowing to a group they should simply ignore because their only tolerance level is zero. Remove the apps they’re complaining about now and they’ll just find others to complain about until, yep, ladies in swimsuits will be considered overtly sexual and removed.
I don’t need Apple or anyone to do my parenting for me.
Posted by Code Monkey in Midstate New York on February 21, 2010 at 10:43 AM (PST)
7
The real idiocy, IMHO, is that they force any application that has any chance of accessing external content to carry a ridiculous 17+ rating that lists every possible type of objectionable content that a person might find on the Internet. As a result, you have password managers and PDF readers that carry the whole spate of warnings like “Frequent/intense realistic violence” which is of course ridiculously misleading.
Personally, my only issue with these so-called adult apps on the App Store is not the question of whether or not they should be there, but where they should be. It’s gotten to the point lately where just about every category on the App Store is flooded with hundreds of apps that serve no purpose other than to display pictures of scantily-clad women or men. I would hardly think of those as “Productivity” apps or “Utility” apps, yet there they are.
IMHO, whether these are “adult” apps or simply single-purpose search apps, the bigger issue is the number of developers who flood the App Store with this kind of useless junk, hoping to make a quick buck by selling a couple of hundred different apps that are really just variations on the exact same thing, and posting a dozen new ones every day.
Posted by Jesse Hollington in Toronto on February 22, 2010 at 7:05 AM (PST)
8
So apple took Archetype off of the app store which is a First person Shooter with zero story line. It only has team death match. How could this app be taken off today due to inappropriate content?
Posted by Travis on July 23, 2010 at 12:01 AM (PST)