Why have Apple Store reviews repeatedly failed despite the reappearance of pornographic apps?

At the time of the release of the new device, Apple has once again sparked heated public discussion, and this time, the app store app is involved in pornography.Recently, a netizen discovered a pornographic app disguised as a learning app in the Apple App Store, which will be redirected to gambling and other pornographic websites

At the time of the release of the new device, Apple has once again sparked heated public discussion, and this time, the app store app is involved in pornography.

Recently, a netizen discovered a pornographic app disguised as a learning app in the Apple App Store, which will be redirected to gambling and other pornographic websites. After exposure, the app once ranked third in the education category ranking and first in the free app ranking. After receiving feedback, Apple removed the software from the shelves. Can a pornographic app really break through Apple's defense against censorship? Who should be held accountable?

Yellow related app drops "vest"

Both in the bright and dark

According to media reports, there are some "edge ball" apps with suggestive words in their names on the Apple App Store, as well as hidden pornographic apps pointed out by netizens. These apps usually wear a seemingly formal "vest" and only show the true content after downloading.

After these pornographic apps were gradually exposed and taken off the shelves, Zhongxin Network discovered that a netizen mentioned a software disguised as a tool app on a social media platform, which can still be searched in the Apple App Store. The application introduction interface shows that the age limit rating of the software is 4 years old or above, and prompts "With this application, you can improve your understanding of sports equipment". After entering this app, the page is filled with a large number of yellow videos, and video links are used to guide other yellow software. The actual content is completely different from what the Apple App Store introduces.

On the morning of the 9th, the software ranked 195th on the Apple App Store tool category ranking, and in the afternoon, it rose to 32nd. After reflection, the software is currently not searchable in the Apple App Store.

Does the yellow app break through Apple's review mechanism defense?

Apple consultant: only review the app from a technical perspective

Regarding this, Zhongxin Network called a consultant from Apple's software department. Perhaps we were careless during the audit and did not come up with a response. We are also very grateful for the complaints from users about this type of software. The information provided by users is very important to us, "the consultant said. After receiving the complaint information from the pornographic app, we will promptly handle it.

The consultant mentioned that before the app was launched, it was manually reviewed rather than machine reviewed. However, regarding the review process and launch standards of the app in the Apple App Store, the consultant expressed inability to answer and immediately transferred to a consultant in the Apple Media Services department.

The consultant stated that Apple has a dedicated review team responsible for conducting preliminary reviews of the app, which means only reviewing the app from a technical perspective to see if it meets technical requirements. However, the consultant stated that they were unable to answer whether Apple would review pornographic content and immediately hung up the phone.

AppStore Audit Guide. Screenshot from Apple's official website

Who should be held accountable for APP pornography?

Expert: The application market has corresponding review obligations

APP disguised as a learning software to spread obscene and pornographic content is definitely a direct disseminator. Although the application market is not directly disseminated, it will incur corresponding review obligations. "Liu Xiaochun, Executive Director of the Internet Rule of Law Research Center at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out in an interview with China News Agency that whether from the perspective of the Network Security Law or the Regulations on Ecological Governance of Network Information Content, The country has made clear requirements for network content governance, stipulating that platforms have auditing obligations.

Liu Xiaochun stated that in more obvious cases, the application market should have a technical proactive control over pornographic content in the app. If it is not reviewed in advance, it should be promptly responded to and quickly removed from the shelves. For apps with strong concealment, Liu Xiaochun believes that "it is understandable that they were not approved at first, but now everyone has paid attention to them. I believe that the market should have a stronger obligation to review.

Regarding how to define pornographic and obscene content, Liu Xiaochun mentioned that there is a term for "fourth level obscenity" in regulations. As for how to grasp boundaries in practice, each internet platform will have a corresponding set of standards.

(Source: China News Network)

Editor: Fu Ying

[Source: China News Network]

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