After Apple removed thousands of apps from the app store that showed any sexuality (an app for a women clothing store that had bikinis was removed). Several companies that were pulling in thousands a day were suddenly without warning having all their apps pulled.
There was a huge backlash from developers, iTunes customers and the press. Apple instituted parental controls for a reason, if they were lacking then Apple should improve their system rather than pulling apps
Here are the new appstore rules that were explained to appstore developer chilifresh:
1. No images of women in bikinis (Ice skating tights are not OK either)
2. No images of men in bikinis! (I didn’t ask about Ice Skating tights for men)
3. No skin (he seriously said this) (I asked if a Burqa was OK, and the Apple guy got angry)
4. No silhouettes that indicate that Wobble can be used for wobbling boobs (yes – I am serious, we have to remove the silhouette in this pic)
PLEASE NOTE: The images below are as strong as our App got – do you call this “overtly sexual”?? I DON’T
5. No sexual connotations or innuendo: boobs, babes, booty, sex – all banned
6. Nothing that can be sexually arousing!! (I doubt many people could get aroused with the pic above[a silhouette of a woman] but those puritanical guys at Apple must get off on pretty mundane things to find Wobble “overtly sexual!)
7. No apps will be approved that in any way imply sexual content (not sure how Playboy is still in the store, but …)
Apple has now reversed it position by reinstating some apps and now creating an explicit category on the appstore. Some speculate Apple intended this in the beginning but failed to communicate properly to developers however none of this was mentioned by Apple head of worldwide marketting, Phil Schiller when he made public statements yesterday that apps containing sexuality would no longer be allowed on the appstore.
Seems like Apple saw hugely mounting opposition to censorship and made a quick 180. I won't argue the merits of adult apps be provided and get into a moral debate however attempting to ban any sexuality from the appstore (which theres tons of explicit content sold on iTunes through movies, TV and songs) made me think that the appstore was being run by the Taliban.