John D. Sutter reports for CNN, “Apple has patented technology that could be used by parents to prevent their kids from sending sexually explicit text messages — or ‘sexting.'”
“The technology, which has not been commercialized, would let a phone’s administrator block an iPhone from sending or receiving texts with certain words,” Sutter reports. “Messages containing blocked material either would not be received or would have the objectionable content redacted. Unlike other text blockers, Apple’s version would also be able to filter content based on a child’s grade level and claims to filter abbreviated words that may be missed by other programs.”
Sutter reports, “The patent, awarded Tuesday, does not address the sending or receiving of explicit images.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Jim – TIV” for the heads up.]
And the Vikings take another hit!
And the Vikings take another hit!
Not really a deterrent, it’ll just cause kids to create a new, high-tech 21st century palori, and Morrissey to write a song about it.
Not really a deterrent, it’ll just cause kids to create a new, high-tech 21st century palori, and Morrissey to write a song about it.
Ouch: That sound painful
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Ouch: That sound painful
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Yeah right that will work. . . for selling more phones to gullible parents
Yeah right that will work. . . for selling more phones to gullible parents
K1D5 W1LL JU5T L3ARN 2 5P3LL D1FF3R3NTLY
K1D5 W1LL JU5T L3ARN 2 5P3LL D1FF3R3NTLY
How would they deal with pics? Apply iPhoto’s “Faces” technology to private parts? What are they going to call it then? “Penises”? “Boobs”?
How would they deal with pics? Apply iPhoto’s “Faces” technology to private parts? What are they going to call it then? “Penises”? “Boobs”?
Oh Great! Now I can’t Squirt anyone! Oh wait, that’s the zune phone 7 that squirts! NM
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Oh Great! Now I can’t Squirt anyone! Oh wait, that’s the zune phone 7 that squirts! NM
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If the kids are already pubescent, these are not biologically kids any more and any attempts to limit their sexuality is abuse towards them.
Of course, their sexuality should not go towards official adults since this is criminal and should not be allowed. However, sexuality between pubescent “kids” is perfectly normal and moral thing.
If the kids are already pubescent, these are not biologically kids any more and any attempts to limit their sexuality is abuse towards them.
Of course, their sexuality should not go towards official adults since this is criminal and should not be allowed. However, sexuality between pubescent “kids” is perfectly normal and moral thing.
Well, now that Apple is playing Big Brother: What’s a good old fashioned pervert to do?
Well, now that Apple is playing Big Brother: What’s a good old fashioned pervert to do?
Brett Favre probably wished Apple had this sooner.
Brett Favre probably wished Apple had this sooner.
LMAO @ JohnnyB
LMAO @ JohnnyB
As long as it appears as an OPTION under Parental Controls I don’t have a problem with it.
As long as it appears as an OPTION under Parental Controls I don’t have a problem with it.
I’d still like to know how many parents are giving their “kids” iphones. Though cool they have a patent for anti-sexting this will literally stop nothing…
Easily anyone could come up with things like this within seconds…
How about I park my car in your garage?
Lets boom boom pow tonight
im sure there are thousands of ways to convey a message like MacDust showed you can just spell differently though I assume there may be a block on it but that would be hard… what if a kid was texting a serial number off something or whatever it may be… I’m sure Apple has figured out most of this.. but this kind of news will be just another way to get more parents to buy an iphone for their kids
I’d still like to know how many parents are giving their “kids” iphones. Though cool they have a patent for anti-sexting this will literally stop nothing…
Easily anyone could come up with things like this within seconds…
How about I park my car in your garage?
Lets boom boom pow tonight
im sure there are thousands of ways to convey a message like MacDust showed you can just spell differently though I assume there may be a block on it but that would be hard… what if a kid was texting a serial number off something or whatever it may be… I’m sure Apple has figured out most of this.. but this kind of news will be just another way to get more parents to buy an iphone for their kids
I guess it will all be left to the imagination now.
I guess it will all be left to the imagination now.
Come to think of it… if they really want to make their kids watch what they are doing.. just have the controls send an email to the parents of a log transcript of their kids texting…. that would probably get the kids to either stop texting or force them to call someone!! OMG how dare someone make teens use verbal communication..
besides all this.. if it only works in texting then this is a waste of time. AIM is free on the iphone, and almost every teen out there has an account… free uncontrolled texting… done
Come to think of it… if they really want to make their kids watch what they are doing.. just have the controls send an email to the parents of a log transcript of their kids texting…. that would probably get the kids to either stop texting or force them to call someone!! OMG how dare someone make teens use verbal communication..
besides all this.. if it only works in texting then this is a waste of time. AIM is free on the iphone, and almost every teen out there has an account… free uncontrolled texting… done
Gee, just what we need…. more censorship. 1984?
Gee, just what we need…. more censorship. 1984?
I’m waiting for the next App release…. How to be a parent 101, by Apple Inc.
I’m waiting for the next App release…. How to be a parent 101, by Apple Inc.
I get the impression that many people are thinking this is a censor that Apple is going to use as opposed to a user-enabled feature much like the restrictions you can use for the App Store
I get the impression that many people are thinking this is a censor that Apple is going to use as opposed to a user-enabled feature much like the restrictions you can use for the App Store
T1TS OR GTFO!!!
T1TS OR GTFO!!!
Won’t work. I regularly use a public WiFi network that filters for “porn”. It means I can’t easily read articles titled “Ex-porn star runs for Congress” or “Police Chief arrested for kiddie porn”. That would be all that it does, except make some busy body feel righteous.
Won’t work. I regularly use a public WiFi network that filters for “porn”. It means I can’t easily read articles titled “Ex-porn star runs for Congress” or “Police Chief arrested for kiddie porn”. That would be all that it does, except make some busy body feel righteous.
Attention Apple criticizers. Apple is responding to a market demand for a specific user feature. This is a user activated and controlled feature. Apple is NOT censoring or controlling anyone. Regardless of your stand on at what age sex is healthy, appropriate, moral – whatever – lots of parents are asking for these controls on cell phones. Apple is simply filling a demand.
Attention Apple criticizers. Apple is responding to a market demand for a specific user feature. This is a user activated and controlled feature. Apple is NOT censoring or controlling anyone. Regardless of your stand on at what age sex is healthy, appropriate, moral – whatever – lots of parents are asking for these controls on cell phones. Apple is simply filling a demand.
@Altivec Guru… geesh… you’re kidding, right? Either that, or you find the concept of raising kids to be absolutely foreign. I can’t believe you are accusing someone of being Orwellian because they are attempting to protect their kids.
@Altivec Guru… geesh… you’re kidding, right? Either that, or you find the concept of raising kids to be absolutely foreign. I can’t believe you are accusing someone of being Orwellian because they are attempting to protect their kids.
Queue people whining about censorship in 3..2..1…
Queue people whining about censorship in 3..2..1…
While I’m opposed to censorship in any way, this is an interesting idea and a selling point. This is for parents who have 12-15 year olds that inherent the old iPhone when mom and dad get the new one. Parental controls will always be optional and configurable, and the more they can do to prevent or complicate “sexting” with very young children, I think that’s a plus.
Good job Apple. There’s a difference between “Big Brother” and offering solutions to uphold moral standards. Putting a little more control into the parent’s hands isn’t such a bad thing.
While I’m opposed to censorship in any way, this is an interesting idea and a selling point. This is for parents who have 12-15 year olds that inherent the old iPhone when mom and dad get the new one. Parental controls will always be optional and configurable, and the more they can do to prevent or complicate “sexting” with very young children, I think that’s a plus.
Good job Apple. There’s a difference between “Big Brother” and offering solutions to uphold moral standards. Putting a little more control into the parent’s hands isn’t such a bad thing.
@ Macromancer
You’re at least 39 minutes too late.
@ Macromancer
You’re at least 39 minutes too late.
This is a waste! Probably the biggest issue with sexting is the distribution of nude photos of underage kids. This patent does nothing to address this real issue. Until that issue is resolved anything else is a half-hearted attempt to placate the righteous. While I can applaud Apple for trying this is nothing more than a public relations patent.
Parents need to do the heavy lifting in this area by keeping an open dialogue with
their kids to make sure they understand that they should not be sending these
inappropriate images out to their boyfriends and girlfriends.
Girls: The Internet is forever and unforgiving.
Boys: Just having in your possession your underage girlfriend’s sext pics can place you in serious jeopardy with the law concerning kiddy porn.
Think about it!
This is a waste! Probably the biggest issue with sexting is the distribution of nude photos of underage kids. This patent does nothing to address this real issue. Until that issue is resolved anything else is a half-hearted attempt to placate the righteous. While I can applaud Apple for trying this is nothing more than a public relations patent.
Parents need to do the heavy lifting in this area by keeping an open dialogue with
their kids to make sure they understand that they should not be sending these
inappropriate images out to their boyfriends and girlfriends.
Girls: The Internet is forever and unforgiving.
Boys: Just having in your possession your underage girlfriend’s sext pics can place you in serious jeopardy with the law concerning kiddy porn.
Think about it!
As a parent, I am all for better ways to protect my kids (and I am not a stereotypical overprotective, religious, rightwing, puritan).
However, I would bet that most of the people complaining about censorship here do not have kids.
Yes, it is true that if someone wants to get around this they will find a way. However, as a parent of 2 girls, I am not really worried about my kids sending something inappropriate. I am more worried about unwanted messages being sent to them. I don’t think many people would contest the my opinion that teenage boys are generally morons with poor social skills that seem to get progressively worse, particularly how they view their female peers.
I would be really happy if they did also come up with picture blocking as well.
As a parent, I am all for better ways to protect my kids (and I am not a stereotypical overprotective, religious, rightwing, puritan).
However, I would bet that most of the people complaining about censorship here do not have kids.
Yes, it is true that if someone wants to get around this they will find a way. However, as a parent of 2 girls, I am not really worried about my kids sending something inappropriate. I am more worried about unwanted messages being sent to them. I don’t think many people would contest the my opinion that teenage boys are generally morons with poor social skills that seem to get progressively worse, particularly how they view their female peers.
I would be really happy if they did also come up with picture blocking as well.
great news
great news
Once image detection software is in place, kids will bypass the “skin tone detection” algorithms by painting themselves blue. But then some AVATAR fans are already applying Rule 34 to the Na’vi.
Once image detection software is in place, kids will bypass the “skin tone detection” algorithms by painting themselves blue. But then some AVATAR fans are already applying Rule 34 to the Na’vi.
@Macromancer:
A little late but right on.
@Macromancer:
A little late but right on.
Good idea. The weird, pro-sex for pubescent 11-year-olds posters on this thread need to buy a clue.
Good idea. The weird, pro-sex for pubescent 11-year-olds posters on this thread need to buy a clue.
This one is a little dumb. They will just create new words to get around the filters.
Good thing it’s optional. I sext my wife all the time!
This one is a little dumb. They will just create new words to get around the filters.
Good thing it’s optional. I sext my wife all the time!
That is plainly stupid.
That is plainly stupid.
Brett Favre does not have tendonitis, he has textonitis!
Brett Favre does not have tendonitis, he has textonitis!
Brett Favre can’t do the ad.He working on a new one for Wrangler Jeans called…
So what’s in your jeans?
Brett Favre can’t do the ad.He working on a new one for Wrangler Jeans called…
So what’s in your jeans?
It may be Apple’s first crack (call it a hobby) at built-in intelligent censorship, to be extended for markets where certain vocabulary must be filtered out.
It may be Apple’s first crack (call it a hobby) at built-in intelligent censorship, to be extended for markets where certain vocabulary must be filtered out.
Hey, anyone read the article?? It says nothing about Apple® censoring anyone. It says that Apple® will allow an iPhone administrator to have some small extra control over their own children. In other words, it’s up to the parents, as it should be, to help control things… not Apple®. This is a good feature and I hope Apple® can figure out how to help parents address images, too.
Anonymous Coward is correct.
What do we have here? A bunch of teenagers posting?
Hey, anyone read the article?? It says nothing about Apple® censoring anyone. It says that Apple® will allow an iPhone administrator to have some small extra control over their own children. In other words, it’s up to the parents, as it should be, to help control things… not Apple®. This is a good feature and I hope Apple® can figure out how to help parents address images, too.
Anonymous Coward is correct.
What do we have here? A bunch of teenagers posting?