“A couple of days ago I commented on Apple’s ham-handed attempt at censoring the Confederate flag from the app store. The company had blithely removed all apps and games that had the Confederate flag from the app store,” Jim Lynch writes for CIO. “But now Apple is backpedaling furiously and has reinstated some games: as long as the Confederate flag doesn’t appear in the app icon or screenshots.”
“I can’t say that I’m surprised that Apple has decided to backpedal furiously on the issue of the Confederate flag. I’ve been reading comments in various places on the Internet and the overwhelming majority of people seemed disgusted with Apple’s heavy-handed censorship of the Confederate flag, particularly in games about the Civil War,” Lynch writes. “I have no doubt that Apple was probably inundated with angry feedback from their customers who felt that the company’s behavior was simply a bridge too far. And that has probably forced the company to step back and reconsider its decision to remove so many apps and games.”
“But where does this latest move leave us? Apparently Apple will allow the Confederate flag in historical games as long as it does not appear in the app icon or in screenshots. Am I the only one that thinks this is silly and insulting to Apple’s customers? What exactly is gained by trying to hide a part of history from an app icon or a screenshot?” Lynch writes. “This is a rather embarrassing situation for Apple. It started out wielding a massive ban-hammer and now it has been forced by public opinion to try to use a scalpel instead. But the end result just leaves the company with egg on its face and makes it look petty…”
Much more, including an example of a game’s changed icon, in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple seems to feel the need to call for some changes, however silly and arbitrary they may be, in some rather laughable attempt to save face over their abrupt about-face. Stop digging, Apple. Just admit your reactionary, sanctimonious mistake, learn from it, and move on.
SEE ALSO:
Why is Apple so embarrassed by Civil War games? – June 27, 2015
Apple purges Confederate flag, but Nazi swastika remains in App Store – June 26, 2015
Tim Cook has let his personal politics affect Apple; Board may have to rein him in – June 25, 2015
Apple removes all American Civil War games from the App Store because of the Confederate flag? – June 25, 2015