Oh good, look what Apple's endorsed

[solarbird]

Please check the ETAs at the bottom of this post for situation updates! Can you still find the app? Apple may be pulling it. Let me know! Thanks!

As you may and may not know, Apple Computer exercises editorial control over the content of the Apple Store, through which music, ebooks, and iPhone and iPad applications are sold. It's been called - somewhat derisively - a Disneyland development platform, and many people prefer Android-based phones specifically because they want an open development environment. I have sympathy for this position, but this post isn't about that argument.

One of the risks of exercising this kind of control is that if you do it, you're effectively endorsing all the applications put online on that store. You're exercising editorial control, and you're making judgement calls.

And if that judgement call happens to include approving an application called "PeekABooTranny," that makes fake photobombs of "fierce trannies in hilarious poses" and promising "a tranny surprise in every shot!" then, well, Apple has endorsed that, as well. (The company behind this application issued a press release today promoting the application that rollick posted about here.)

I have phoned Apple and had a long conversation with a nice woman in media relations, expressing my anger, and wondering whether they would similarly approve "PeekABooN*****" featuring "fierce d****** in hilarious poses" and promising "a watermelon-sucking co** in every shot." I've also told them that, as someone co-running a small ISP that is an Apple/Linux house, and as someone talking to them via my iPhone, that I would junk every piece of Apple hardware I have and never buy another one if this isn't fixed.

I want to make something clear: I wouldn't be upset at Apple about this were this an open platform. I'd be upset at the company who wrote it, and the transphobic and sexist bastards behind that company, and the stinking wastes of flesh who buy it - but not the neutral, open platform.

But it's not an open platform. Apple only sell apps that meet their standards of appropriateness. They hold a very strong line against anything that might be "offensive content." (You might recall the "baby shaker" application pulled last month.) If you're gonna do that, fine; you're gonna take the hits that come with it. And this, apparently, did not trigger anyone's ideas about "offensive content." I find that obscene.

I cannot urge you strongly enough to let Apple know what you think of this particular judgement call. Apple Public Relations is at +1 (408) 974-2042. If you have an iPhone, ring them up from it, and let them know about that part as well. Ms. A. didn't say "we'll need a bunch of complaints for this to gain any traction," but she implied it. Make those complaints.

Unless you're for this kind of thing, in which case, get the fuck off my friendslist. Now.

Again, Apple Public Relations: +1 (408) 974-2042.

eta: Addenda to this post are here, including instructions for text/email complaints. But phone first.

eta2: Can you still see the application in iTunes? We could as of this morning but are getting reports that it's being withdrawn from store servers, and I don't see it anymore myself. See here for first report; it seems to have started disappearing sometime after 8:30am Pacific time, North America. Is it still findable for you?

And if it is gone, what should happen now? I'd personally hope that whoever approved this gets a good talking to. I don't want them fired or anything; I'd just like somebody to go, "what the hell you thinkin'?" at whoever it was.

eta3: GLAAD reports that Apple specifically took down the app in response to consumer complaints and complaints from GLAAD itself. If Apple's going to have a "walled garden" approach, they need to pay attention to what they're letting over that wall, and what somehow does and does not count as defamatory. Of course, an open dev environment would've kept this problem off Apple's complaint, but given the realities, at least they acted quickly.

---

Hi, all you awfully large number of people! I'm normally a musician, and I'm working on my first album. (My official band site, such as it is, is here, and if that's having net issues again, our music is actually hosted over here, on Bandcamp, and they have lots of bandwidth. Give a listen, if you like.) I'm trying to keep on top of comments and things while working on my music, but I'm going to be playing catch-up in waves. So if your comment doesn't appear for a few hours, that's why; I'm quite busy. Try to keep Apple at least as busy as I am, OK? XD

Comments

[maellenkleth]

Concur, utterly. I used the example of the baby-shaking app with the PR rep and, I think, that got her attention.

'Disgust' is too mild a word. :(

[numb3r-5ev3n.livejournal.com]

I already considered Apple to be sellouts of the lowest order. After the DRM nightmares and just generally shitty quality of my last few apple products, I swore never to let another Apple product darken my door. I've never said word one to anyone representing the company about it.

Now? Screw them. I will be letting them know what I think.

[solarbird]

Good, thanks. It's important to make that call, as well as tell other people.

[kirbyk.livejournal.com]

This makes me angry too. Forwarding the info to the appropriate activist corners I know.

[solarbird]

Awesome. Don't forget to call yourself, too. (I'd have posted an email link but I didn't see one that I didn't think was going to be a black hole.)

[windbourne.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the tip-off. That's -horrible-. I'll be executing some complaints.

[solarbird]

Excellent. Thanks.

[jonathankorman.livejournal.com]

Thanks for spotting this. I'm spreading the word.

[solarbird]

Excellent. Don't forget to ring them yourself, too.

[kathrynt.livejournal.com]

We're an apple-free house, but I sent it to emmacrew.

[solarbird]

You are? But you complain about iTunes and how much you hate it all the time.

(I mean, hi, you're about to give birth, so, KINDA BUSY. But I thought you still had the iTunes h8. Besides, for the other people reading, I don't think you have to be an Apple user to go "hey what the fuck?" in this case.)

[403.livejournal.com]

Eeeeew.

[solarbird]

I already know! Tell them!

[leftbase.livejournal.com]

Spreading the word, and calling.

[gerimaple.livejournal.com]

Not an Apple user (at least not since my iPod died and now I'm having VERY serious second thoughts about replacing it), but definitely signal-boosting.

[genderbitch.wordpress.com (from livejournal.com)]

Article is good but there's one issue of erasure in here.

That PeekABooTranny app is transphobic/cissexist and transmisogynistic. Not sexist and homophobic.

By calling it sexism and homophobia, you erase trans people and subsume our concerns into the concerns of the gay community while implicitly claiming we're gay due to that. See the issue? You really ought to correct that sentence.

[solarbird]

Sexism is at the root of all of these evils, but I'll gladly add transphobic.

[firni.livejournal.com]

Disneyland development platform? More like FACEBOOK development platform.

[solarbird]

whut

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

The number won't talk to you if you're not a journalist; they kick you over to general customer service (which is closed right now). I'll try again tomorrow, probably after thinking up a fictional source to be a journalist from (I'm a student at Antioch; I may say I'm a writer for student media, which I might just be for this purpose if I don't like the answers they give me on the phone call), so they take me seriously.

[solarbird]

Yeah, but it kicks you over to a person in the right kind of position, as opposed to all the tech support lines which don't. Thanks, and good luck tomorrow.

[phoenix-hawk.livejournal.com]

Calling in the morning. This a fucking obscenity.

[solarbird]

Excellent. Thanks.

[blues-kun.livejournal.com]

uhhhhhh

Wow, what in the fuck.

[solarbird]

IKR? It's obscene, and that's not a word I use often.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm unsurprised. An AAPL VP once said that he wouldn't consider hiring me, for a position that I was unusually well-qualified for, because (he believed that) I was trans.

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks for the information. Yet another reason for me to not support apple in any form.

I forwarded the link on to kinkontap (sexuality/gender rights podcast) as well as my local networks.

Have a great day

[solarbird]

Well, make sure and call them and tell them that. That's the important part.

[cow.livejournal.com]

I guess I have a call to make tomorrow :/

[solarbird]

Thanks. MOAR CANADAIANS PLS XD

Will call them tomorrow

[mojave-wolf.livejournal.com]

Hopefully it will do some good.

Re: Will call them tomorrow

[solarbird]

Excellent. Thanks.

[arjache.livejournal.com]

Ugh, and I just placed an order for a new Mac last week. Thanks for the hotline number.

Have you considered forwarding this to an Apple blogger like Daring Fireball (http://daringfireball.net/)? I specifically mention that one because he's covered App Store policing issues in the past (though mostly on the tech side of things) and has a pretty wide audience.

Also, this is pretty clearly in violation of section 14 of the App Store guidelines (http://www.cultofmac.com/heres-the-full-text-of-apples-new-app-store-guidelines/58590) if you want a specific section to cite:

14. Personal attacks

14.1 Any app that is defamatory, offensive, mean-spirited, or likely to place the targeted individual or group in harms way will be rejected
14.2 Professional political satirists and humorists are exempt from the ban on offensive or mean-spirited commentary

[solarbird]

I'm sure it'd have more weight coming from a regular reader of the blog XD

[foibos.livejournal.com]

I haven't even touched anything made by Apple in a very long time...

A usage question: apart from the app being ridiculous and offensive, it seems that the word "tranny" itself is offensive, is that right? I ask because it looks like a reasonable translation from the Swedish "transa", which is a fairly neutral word. If I ever need to refer to trans-people in English, I rather think I'd prefer to avoid words that belong to the hate-speech vernacular.

[caladri.livejournal.com]

Tranny is offensive, yeah. I had gotten the impression that transa was used analogously, but then I only ever knew really crass Swedes to use it, who certainly used it with all the vileness of tranny. Whee.

[geneli4.livejournal.com]

so vile. thanks for posting about it.

[solarbird]

You're welcome. Don't forget to call.

[msstacy13.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[solarbird]

No problem. Don't forget to call.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Heh! Here by link--just got off the phone, told the PR person that three people in this family are on the verge of throwing away their iPhones unless they take steps, and am about to blog in protest.

Thank you for the heads up!

Signal Boost: Offensive Apple iPhone app

[pingback-bot.livejournal.com]

User sartorias referenced to your post from Signal Boost: Offensive Apple iPhone app (http://sartorias.livejournal.com/436554.html) saying: [...] via : the post is here [...]

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Hi, nice to meet you. Da Pope sent me.

I called - was sweet, mature and insistent on removal of the product and yes, I WOULD like a phone call back, please?

The person the other end of the line hadn't heard about it, looked it up and the appalled silence said it all.

"Why would you do this to ANYONE?"

Sadly, the best she could offer was herself - and while I appreciated the offer (name, rank and phone number), I was very clear I wanted to see the application trashed and a phone call back to me explaining same and why it had gotten to market in the first place.

I'll follow up in a day or so.

[solarbird]

Excellent and thank you.

[maellenkleth]

Followed up now with a long chat with someone responsible for sales and marketing in Apple **Canada**, who shares my sense that this app is appalling. Has promised follow-up; I gave her our fax number, as this is one of those moments when **having** a dedicated fax number adds significant weight to one's credibility.

[solarbird]

Excellent. Thanks.