Reznor Rants Against App Store Censorship
Recently the inevitable issue of censorship came up regarding the App Store, Apple’s online distribution platform for tools, games and various applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch. A baby shaking game was pulled after some public outcry, but Trent Reznor’s band Nine Inch Nails submitted an official band application which was rejected.
The application was designed to allow fans of the band to access the forums from their mobile devices, locate other fans via the GPS and upload their own NIN photos, but Apple said no because the app contained ‘objectionable content’ from the 1994 Downward Spiral album.
Mr. Reznor was upset of course, citing the hypocrisy inherent in the fact that a free application can be rejected while the album is available for purchase from the iTunes store, comparing Apple to Wal-mart who while refusing to sell music with profanity still sells films and video games with similar content and yet more objectionable content.
While Apple does have every right to police their own marketplace, it would be advisable for them to create some rating system or rubric of content that they’ll accept and reject, since a reactive approach to censorship is likely to be incredibly inconsistent.