We won’t labour this point, but we think Apple’s latest App Store approval blunder calls some of its core philosophies into question.
We know the App Store won’t sell overt erotica - even eBooks carrying the ancient love manual, the Kama Sutra, have been banned from the store - so we’re really, really keen to know how come the company approved a Spanish App containing Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf, complete with a swastika logo.
We can agree that Mein Kampf is a book that’s actually sold in the shops, but then again, so’s the Kama Sutra, and the latter title has seen eBook readers banned for including it.
You can take a look at nine more banned apps here. However, that the Mein Kampf app complete with Nazi swastika has been included on the Spanish version of the App Store while Kama Sutra hasn’t says that just being a book isn’t enough. Do take a look at TechCrunch’s angry opinion on this here.
Adding a little more grist to this mill, a wander through iTunes is all it takes for a savvy user to find all manner of white supremacist music offered for sale. We’re not going to name any of the bands here - we don’t want to encourage them - but we know it’s there, and also know this music isn’t stocked at high street music retailers, so why is it at Apple?
Now, you could argue that this is “just music”, but Apple will ban homophobic songs by reggae artists, but is prepared to accept racist titles by white supremacists.
We feel that in both these cases, Apple needs to get its philosophical approach sorted out.
(Image also courtesy TechCrunch)
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Cultural diversity strikes again
I guess it's part of the cultural difference between the old world (Europe et al. ) and the new one (USA etc). Being european myself, the old continent has less problems with nudity (there is a bit of a rift/gradient of acceptance of nudity between north and south Europe however) but on the other hand more with violence, racism, guns, etc. Vice versa, my impression is that despite being world largest porn producer, the US of A, are still puritans from the wild wild west with guns(there is a Texan city that forces you to wear a gun) and violence, but fearing their own and others body. The same reasons why the name "Heather" has been banned from some sites, is the reason why the california based company is terrified by drastic art. While Europe is terrified, astonished, and even amused over the arms fetish of many americans. And their over-rated free speech admentment. Racism should under circumstances fall under the protection of "free speech". That's another cultural difference. Thus I honestly question who the old and the new continent is, based on cultural progression. (no, I don't bash the USA or americans. Not at all.)
sorry. I meant "should under
sorry. I meant "should under NO cicumstances fall under the free speech admenment"
Banning speech is an attempt
Banning speech is an attempt to control someone's thinking. That doesn't strike me as "cultural progression."
There you have it
The post below sums it up. Mein Kampf & the swatstika are llegal in Germany. That's why it is banned. Because of a European law. Yes, America was founded by the Puritans. They fled England because it did not allow religious freedom. There was that royal family assigned by God, supposedly. When the US was finally free of European rule, the right to keep and bear arms was written into the constitution to allow taking up arms against a European invasion. Several European countries (England, France, Spain) were colonizing the Americas. Get the picture? Both the puritan influence and the right to arms are historical reactions to conditions in Europe at the time. Why Apple, a liberal Califiornia company constantly touting itself as being green and gay friendly would not to sell books you can buy at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or nearly any other bookstore in the US is beyond me. They are making that choice. Please get your facts straight. There is no city in Texas that you have to wear a gun to enter. There might be an archaic 120 year old law saying that, but it is not enforced. I live in Texas. Gun laws here are the least restrictive of any state. You can use deadly force to protect property ... Try to steal something and you can legally be shot by the owner! As far as racism, racist statements are protected as free speech. Racist ACTIONS, such as refusing service or not hiring someone based on their ethnicity is completely illegal eveywhere in the US. Freedom of speech being in the US constitution is again a direct result of speaking out against the monarchies in Europe being illegal at the time. Despite your silly claims, all Americans do not think alike. One side may not shut the other up with laws banning speech.
You got it wrong.
The Pilgrims did not come to America to promote religious freedom. They came to America to promote Puritanism, and were intolerant of other religions. It was this intolerance that got them chased out of England. They thought England was too liberal - kind of like how Hitler felt about Judiasm according to the first chapter of Mein Kampf. Kind of like how many Americans feel about Islam.
First of all, the Puritans
First of all, the Puritans and the Pilgrims were two different groups. They FLED religious persecution and came to the colonies to pursue their religion in peace. They were not liberals, no, and very hard on their own members who strayed. They were religious nuts, in my opinion. They did start a tradition of freedom of religion in the United States. Being victims themselves, they did not try to force others to follow their religion. They did have an effect on American laws on things like nudity and consumption of alcohol. Neither group's beliefs really caught on.
While you're busy being so
While you're busy being so enlightened and all, would you mind telling me which town in Texas forces everyone to wear guns? Because my suspicion is that, like this town, your comparison between US and Europe is based on stereotypes you've accumulated watching too much TV, information you've seen on the Internet and believed because it matches your own prejudices, the confirmation from friends of yours who share your beliefs and information sources, and your own naive imaginings. And where did this come from? “Racism should under circumstances fall under the protection of 'free speech'”. It does. Note our current President's ex pastor, who was quite a public racist in his sermons. He was never jailed for this. Freedom of speech, though, doesn't mean you have to respect a man when he talks; it also doesn't mean that a guy's speech shouldn't have an impact on his career prospects; it just means you don't put him in jail or write laws shutting him up.
In fact there is that town
In fact there is that town and the law is just 6 years old. But alas, it's in Kansas, not in Texas. So, sorry to Texas. The name of the town is Geuda Springs. By the way, to argue that the fight for independence still justifies the American gun laws, leaving millions of arms in civilian hands where they do not belong to, is simply pathetic. That was some 250 years ago. Time to move on and outlaw guns. And : yes I made broad generalisations and not every American is the same, just as not every European is the same. True. Very true. But there is a very valid core in my point of view. The ghost and the soul of the Puritans is still affects the USA. Some more, some less. And being afraid of the kamasutra is typical Puritan. And, I tend to disagree with you about racistic statements. There are good reasons why not only actions but also statements should be outlawed. The freedom of oneself ends when and where others are hurt. Not only physical but also verbally.
Oh God, get off your high
Oh God, get off your high horse. What a shocker, you are against freedom of speech and private ownership of firearms. Typical European statist, valuing collective "security" over individual freedom - a very slippery slope that is. Let me guess you live in the modern police state that is Great Britain? I always found your country's obession with the tv show "Big Brother" fitting. Well your rediculous network of closed circuit cameras monitoring your every move, and "banning" firearm ownership really worked well hasn't it? No less than a DOUBLING of gun crime since the Labour government took power in 1997 (source, BBC News). Too bad criminals don't care about gun bans - only the law abding turn their guns in like good little sheep.
Oh, and you'll be happy to know you're on the same side of the gun control debate as the Nazi's:
"Germans who wish to use firearms should join the SS or the SA - ordinary citizens don't need guns, as their having guns doesn't serve the State"
- Heinrich Himmler
As for freedom of speech, it is the most controversial and divisive speech that needs the most protection, hateful or not. It must apply to all speech or none, there can be no middle ground. All the modern ideals and freedoms we enjoy now were repulsive and unpopular at one point in time. Using your reasoning, 100 years ago it should have been illegal to say women should have the right to vote, or for Civil Rights, both unpopular in their time.
“I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” - Voltaire
By the way I'm not American, I'm Canadian, and I would take their right to self-defense and freedom of speech and conscience over your valued right to see boobies on TV.
Nothing like distorting the
Nothing like distorting the facts to bolster your own prejudiced views against the US.
Gueda Springs does not require every citizen to CARRY a gun. It requires "most" households to own a gun and ammunition to provide for their own "self-protection" because the town is too cheap to hire a police force, and the city is arguing that mandating gun ownership by law fulfills the city's responsibility to provide for the protection of its citizens.
I have no doubt that anyone will ever be prosecuted under this law successfully, as it is a total perversion of the 2nd Amendent. (By successfully prosecuted I mean passing a test of the law's Constitutionality by the Federal Supreme Court.)
You can buy the Kama Sutra is
You can buy the Kama Sutra is the US. Anywhere! It isn't banned. Apple chose not to sell it. Actually, Apple supported gay marriage, which is far more controversial in the US than the Kama Sutra, so that is a strange situation. It is true the Puritans have had effects on US law and customs, though. Gueda Springs had that law for a very short time. It is already gone. I grew up in Kansas and can assure you that someone cannot walk around a town with a gun there. In fact, you NEVER could, even in the old West days. That is why there were sheriffs and marshals like Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp. They enforced those laws. If you shoot someone committing a crime in KS, they had better be inside your house or YOU may be charged with a crime. In checking, I forgot Kennesaw, Georgia has a similar law. It is a very pretty Atlanta suburb. If you are opposed to guns or mentally handicapped, you are excluded, as with the law in Gueda Springs. I actually lived in the same county, Cobb, and have been there many times. I assure you not everyone owns a gun, they do not go house to house looking, and you don't have to strap one one at the city limits! It is not an enforcable law, and no one tries. Why they pass these silly laws, I couldn't tell you.
Pathetic? It is in our constitution and part of our history. No country will ever invade and occupy the United States, and that was the idea. If that is such a silly idea, what happened in Europe in the 1930s & 40s? And if Europeans are so progressive and forward thinking,
why can a German not be president of the EU?
We'll pass a law saying on
We'll pass a law saying on one's feelings can be hurt immediately.
In fact there is that town
In fact there is that town and the law is just 6 years old. But alas, it's in Kansas, not in Texas. So, sorry to Texas. The name of the town is Geuda Springs. By the way, to argue that the fight for independence still justifies the American gun laws, leaving millions of arms in civilian hands where they do not belong to, is simply pathetic. That was some 250 years ago. Time to move on and outlaw guns. And : yes I made broad generalisations and not every American is the same, just as not every European is the same. True. Very true. But there is a very valid core in my point of view. The ghost and the soul of the Puritans is still affects the USA. Some more, some less. And being afraid of the kamasutra is typical Puritan. And, I tend to disagree with you about racistic statements. There are good reasons why not only actions but also statements should be outlawed. The freedom of oneself ends when and where others are hurt. Not only physical but also verbally.
It's forbidden by the law to
It's forbidden by the law to sell this book in germany and use symbols like the swastika - and this book IS on sale in germany.
To avoid repeating in future
banning this is not the answer, this has to be available for everyone to be aware of its craziness and consequences.
Censuring books like this does not make USA better than other countries like China, Iran, North Korea... in this respect.
P.S: I won't read the book but it does not mean I do not want anyone else to read it.
Nazi-laws: Banning vs Censoring
This might give some of you Germans and non-Germans a view on this topic
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1911626,00.html
thoughts to the subject
I am German.
In my personal opinion the article by the time is not right in all points.
Our "country's constant struggle to distance itself from its past" compared to other countries like Japan and Italy is not true.
In those countries there is no distance to the past at all. They just do not learn about their countries involvement and ideologic share of racism and national socialism. I have seen people from Italy gone mad when asked about their involvement in the second World War.
I am absolutely pro free speach.
But germany can not do it right. If it would be allowed to have or show a swatstika, other countries like France or even Italy (see the irony) would believe that Nazis rise to power again. Therefore banning swatstika is a way to show foreign countrys that we know what Hitler and his ideology did to Germany and to the world.
In the German constitution one of the main points is defending democracy! Therefore if a person, a group or a company, says, shows or does something which will encourage others to speek or do something against the ideology of democracy it is against the law! This is the reason why "Mein Kampf" is forbidden. It also makes it clear why the symbol swatstika is forbidden too. This symbol stands for a non democratic ideology. Symbols are strong, and even stronger these days.
So again this all is my personal opinion!
Im sorry for my english, hope you where able to understand my points
Too soon
I understand. Germany still has these banned because many living people remember the damage they represent. Maybe in another 50 years.
Obviously Europe has not forgotten, nor completely forgiven, either.
My app was banned because it
My app was banned because it listed Hitler's name once, and never endorsed his terrible actions. It took 1 month to finally be rejected, and until then, was in "your app is taking longer than expected to review."
After I got the "app is taking longer than expected to review" email, I resubmitted the app under a different name, and it was approved with no changes!
I am really getting tired of the App Store, and all of its inconsistent reviewers (rejectors). I am seriously starting to think about alternatives like Android, even though none use the same quality of frameworks as the iPhone SDK. I really like Objective-C, too.
"should not fall under the
"should not fall under the free speech amendment" ..doesn't this contradict the whole idea of free speech?
If this text is left out, we're no better than the nazis, burning books.
Of course this book should be allowed for everyone to read. The problem is not in the text, it's in how people react to it. That part is the most important thing to work on. Education. Broadening our minds, learning from the past, knowing what's right and what's wrong.
A text is comparable to other factors that we face in the course of our lives - which cannot be "banned from the seller". Learning how to deal with this information or these dilemmas is the key. If you master that, you make the world a better place. For yourself and others.
Also - banning a swastika.. sigh.. why not ban the cross? Ban a doodle. Sticks and stones - how old are we? It's a pictogram. It's a logo that we all know stands for very bad idea. Where are we, when we start banning paintings ..whoop, back to being just as bad as the nazis.
A decade ago, the US had this thing called the constitution - it had some pretty cool guidelines in it. The first was the freedom of speech and religion. One POWERFUL amendment that I hope they get back some day.
You should never let fear control you - or you'll end up where we are today. Being afraid that a logo or a text will bring down society. We all need to be THINKING individuals and learn from the past - if anyone tells you otherwise, you know something's fishy.
Peace.. ;)
What's the gripe with the use
What's the gripe with the use of the swastika?
Just because it was adopted by the Nazi's why should that be a bad thing?
The symbol is used today throughout Indian culture.
See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika
I can't understand why you think this is "Apple’s latest App Store approval blunder"
For me, this is a triumph for common sense.
Both
I find it disturbing when anyone thinks that freedom of speech has anything to do with what they think of the content. Freedom of speech is capricious if it doesn't include that which we most detest. Morality should not dictate freedom, for if it does, then the word freedom is interchangeable with controlled and shackled.
'My Stuggle' (I'm not sure why it's one of the only books which we do not translate the title) is very relevant, and should be required reading in schools. Then I wouldn't have to be constantly flabbergasted that no one on an actual news program seem to understand what socialism, fascism, communism, Marxism, etc... actually mean. When people point to th
As a matter of fact it is not
As a matter of fact it is not true that “Mein Kampf“ is illegal in Germany, it is allowed to own it, read it (or even sell it, as long as it is an antique book). However, the federal state of Bavaria owns the copyright of "Mein Kampf" and forbids any reprint of the book (ironically, one could argue that they are fighting against copyright infringement). The depiction of the Swastika, however is in general illegal unless it is used in an educational or artistical context!
"Mein Kampf" is not illegal in Germany
As a matter of fact it is not true that “Mein Kampf“ is illegal in Germany, it is allowed to own it, read it (or even sell it, as long as it is an antique book). However, the federal state of Bavaria owns the copyright of "Mein Kampf" and forbids any reprint of the book (ironically, one could argue that they are fighting against copyright infringement). The depiction of the Swastika, however is in general illegal unless it is used in an educational or artistical context!
Thanks for this interesting
Thanks for this interesting debate, for once people are not trolling, being provocative nor completly full of stereotypes.
Finnish Air force still has
Finnish Air force still has swastika on their squadron flag, since 1918 few years before the Germans started to use it. Symbol is illegal in Germany only when it's used as symbol of nazism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika#Finland
the app is out of the app store
FYI the App is not in the App Store anymore http://blog.appsfire.com/good-news-the-t-24h-countdown-worked-the-nazi
Whos the racist now?
I think that because this is not to my taste, no one else should be able to enjoy it.
No no no
e-book Mi Lucha is not App Store.
Freedom of speech
I'd like to publish a boot on mass killing and the most efficient way to do it. What should I call the app ?
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