“Apple Inc., which apologized to Chinese consumers this month after being criticized by state-run media, was ordered by the government to remove obscene content that can be accessed through its App Store,” Lulu Yilun Chen reports for Bloomberg.
“The National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications named Apple among 198 websites ordered to remove content, the official Xinhua News Agency reported, without providing details of the material,” Chen reports. “‘This is another very heavy stick to remind content sellers who the boss is,’ said David Schlesinger, founder and managing director of independent consultant Tripod Advisors. ‘Apple really has to work hard on government relations.'”
Chen reports, “Programmers are required to sign contracts agreeing not to carry obscene, offensive or defamatory material when they develop apps for Apple, according to guidelines on the Cupertino, California-based company’s website. The Chinese government department shut down 21 of the websites and ordered 175 to delete the content, it said.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
Well first you got to find this porn. I don’t know of any on the App store so it will be interesting to see what the Chinese government considers porn in the App store. That word is not searchable in the App store so I don’t know how the Chinese government found anything porn related.
There are plenty of “obscene” things that do not qualify as porn.
Definition of OBSCENE
1: disgusting to the senses : repulsive
2: a : abhorrent to morality or virtue; specifically : designed to incite to lust or depravity
b : containing or being language regarded as taboo in polite usage
c : repulsive by reason of crass disregard of moral or ethical principles
d : so excessive as to be offensive
hmm, sounds like Obama Messiah.
WTF has Obama got to do with this you cretin. Please take your stupid political bullshit elsewhere. I’m sick of the idiotic behaviour, this is an Apple related site for gods sake.
heh.
@Grizz
Thanks. Well said re botvijerk.
It’s amazing how one person can wrap up so much stupidity, small-minded poison, petulance and bluster together with such an amazing lack of any actual substance.
Hey, botvijerk — note Grizz with stars after 15 votes. Do y’ think you could maybe take a hint? Nobody wants to read your juvenile crap except a couple of similarly damaged personalities.
“a : abhorrent to morality or virtue; specifically : designed to incite to lust or depravity”
So, botvinnik, thinking about your president gives you a woodie, does it?
Communists. Apple is now having to deal with communists. Lots of luck there.
China be trolling again.
At least Apple is just part of a larger investigation, and not being singled out by the state-run propaganda machine to try and force them into bowing to the regime. Hopefully Apple will end up escaping this situation unscathed.
There is no way to comply with many of these government standards. I some countries, a woman’s hair or lower leg can not be seen. I have know idea what is done if you bring the New York Times into one of these countries. However, almost all the terrorists have a thing for the XXX rated video and products.
Just look at the album covers on many of the on-line music. When TV goes all on line in a year or two, I have know idea how they are going to police that.
yeah, i bet they would love the old “mom’s apple pie” album cover……
Apple long term (3-5 years) get out, how many hints do you need, if won’t get better.
Tim better prepare another apology letter.
Dear Chinese Communist Genocidal Bastards:
Apple would like to apologize for that tit that got on Angry Birds.
Hugs & Kisses,
you ass kissin’ CEO
Timmy
In china the Declaration of Independence is obscene.
Imagine how they feel about the Bill of Rights!
I love the way totalitarian regimes throughout history have often been so prissy – raging against the corruption of their people . . . even while indulging in vast amounts of it themselves. Much of which usually involves abusing, torturing, and bumping off said citizens.
Straining at gnats (as a well known champion of numerous obscene ideas once observed).
Tsk. Bloomberg 🙁 ran a can’t-miss story with an irresistible headline. Any guess on how long until the New York Times picks up the story? After they get over their post-Pulitzer hangover, that is.
This confirms how perverted are Bloomberg the rest of the “news” outlets, when “Apple” is deliberately conflated with “obscene” in the headline. The story itself is built around Apple’s misadventures in China.
The originating story (the latest in a series of regional bulletins) is China’s campaign to purify the Internet. That story is far bigger than Apple, whose comparatively bland offense was named as operating a store offering third-party vulgar or culturally objectionable materials, presumably including “50 Shades of Grey”, the racier varieties of Manga, and Richard Chamberlain movies.
Minimised in the article are the 197 other offenders on China’s clean-up list. Some operate unregistered websites, run by crime rings to distribute drugs and pornography, sites that promote sexual freedom or host salacious pop-up ads offering one-night stands. There are legal but dodgy sites like “sexy beauty women’s tennis”. Actually, that one might squeak by the censors.
North Korea and China……
Not much difference, one has electricity and food the other doesn’t but both want to control and be seen as a leader.
What a laugh.
What the F*** is the USA purchasing all this low grade crap from these fools when other Country’s are far more friendly and will work to encourage trade.
How about a big fat trade imbargo against China, lets see how long they pull this communistic God Complex.
And by the way, I am aware that of the problems and political issues this would do, so don’t preach to me on something that should be done and makes perfect responsible sense but won’t be.
I would just like to have it happen, but this is no longer the late 1940’s.
I wonder why they ban porn. Just wondering what a communist dictatorship has to gain by forbidding porn. Ok that they won’t let people access critical texts and so on but porn? I don’t get it. I’m sure the state officials are drowning in porn themselves just that no one knows it. Just as they discovered porn when Sadams palace was raided. There are many cultures where they despise porn publicaly but behind closed doors their leaders are doing something else. I’m sure it’s the same in China.