Apple Rejects "Politically Charged" iPhone App
A 22-year-old iPhone application developer by the name of Red Daly is claiming that Apple rejected his new application from inclusion in the iTunes App Store due to its political nature. His app, iSinglePayer, was designed to educate its users on the benefits of a single-payer health care system, a hotly debated issue here in the U.S. In addition to data-filled bullet points, the app also taps into the phone's GPS to determine who the user's local congressperson is, how much money the health care sector donated to their campaign, and a "tap to call" button to connect app users with lawmakers.
According to Daly, an Apple representative spoke to him by phone to inform him that the rejection of the app was due to its "politically charged" nature. Well that, and the fact that Apple doesn't allow political apps from single developers.
Where Does Apple Draw the Line when it Comes to Politics?
Apple may understandably want to distance their company from any hot-button political issue such as health care for fear that accepting political applications would damage their image (at least among those with opposing viewpoints). However, in this case it's a matter of them arbitrarily deciding that one political app can't make the cut when many others already did. For example, during Obama's campaign, there was an "official" Obama application which included news, event listings, media, and details on where the candidate stood on various issues. Was that not politically charged? McCain supporters probably thought so.
Daly also notes that Apple currently carries "Drudge Reader," an app that allows for mobile reading of the "The Drudge Report" website. While this is a news-based application, the site is generally regarded as being conservative in tone. So again, this could be considered a politically charged application, especially among those who disagree with Matt Drudge's opinions and views.
So where is Apple drawing the line? Daly says that the app's rejection is, in part, due to the fact that it's a product of a single developer. At least, that's what he claims Apple told him. Apparently, political candidates are allowed to release apps expressing their views, but single developers are not.
Why Not Allow Political Apps?
The real question here is why not? Let's say that Apple approved the application, what would the fallout be? Would those against the views expressed in the app actually refuse to purchase an iPhone or iPod Touch? Would they dump their Apple devices for a politically-neutral Pre, Blackberry, or Google Android smartphone? All but the most excitable zealots would not. In fact, the result would probably be the release of another application from a different developer expressing an opposing viewpoint. Would that be such a bad thing?
Considering how the rejected application's design tapped into the phone's GPS to deliver personalized, localized political information, it could have really set the stage for a slew of grassroots apps that used the mobile platform to rally the public to various causes or issues. Tap to call your congressperson, tap to customize and send an email to your senator, for example. In time, it's likely that both sides of every issue would be properly represented, keeping Apple out of the spotlight as supporting any particular political opinion themselves.
To date, it's been Apple's MO to distance themselves and reject anything remotely controversial, whether that's mature apps, apps from their competition, and obviously now, politics too. Ironically, by doing so, they actually invite the scrutiny and ill will they were trying to avoid. At the end of the day, though, Apple's iTunes Store is not the Internet where anyone and everyone can have their say - it's a closed, tightly regulated platform where developers have to play by Apple's rules or not play at all.
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Yeah, that is rather stupid. I'm not a big fan of the health care proposal, but its beside the point. Apple's only concern should be whether the app runs OK on the phone. If it doesn't, let it through and let end users decide.
Ehhh, I mean if the app DOES run fine, let it through. I guess RWW doesn't allow people to edit comments. Oh well. :-)
I saw an application called Conservative Talking Points while browsing the store last weekend. What gives? The inconsistency of Apple's selection process is maddening.
This bothers me more than the Google Voice rejection which is understandable since the app may threaten their business model and ultimately their bottom-line profits.
Now Apple is censoring free speech too? That's rotten.
bunch of ****s!!
(Note: comment edited for profanity)
My app, which is the exactly the same as the widget at www.obamacountdownwidget.com was also rejected last week by Apple. It was in a "In Review" state at Apple for more than a month. I sent multiple emails to Apple with no response. Then I received an email that stated,
Thank you for submitting Barack Obama Countdown to the App Store. We've reviewed Barack Obama Countdown and determined that we cannot post this version of your iPhone application to the App Store because it contains content that ridicules public figures and is in violation of Section 3.3.14 from the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement which states:
"Applications may be rejected if they contain content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, sounds, etc.) that in Apple's reasonable judgement may be found objectionable, for example, materials that may be considered obscene, pornographic, or defamatory."
If you believe that you can make the necessary changes so that Barack Obama Countdown does not violate the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement, we encourage you to do so and resubmit it for review.
I sent a follow up email and still have not heard anything back.
Religion is more divisive in this country than even politics (probably about the only thing), and yet there are plenty of religious apps in the app store...
What's so politically charged about it? Let the people who want the application get it and those who don't support single-payer not buy it. As you say, precedent for presenting political views has already been established.
It is very disturbing that Apple is playing such a role in defining what political messages are acceptable. I didn't know that store keepers were granted the right to be censors... I think that they are overstepping their bounds way past quality control by blocking access to facts and opinions regarding health reform.
Another blog also reported that the rejection letters are now under a non-disclosure agreement. This means that when you are denied access to the store with an arbitrary rejection reason, you are supposed to be quite about it or risk being sued.
Rejected because it was a whining crybaby app. We don't need an app for that. We have blog commenters.
They allowed the 9/11 memorial iPhone app- who is to determine what constitutes a valid cause for an app? Seems pretty shady.
sean
They should just do what Mozilla does. Don't ban, just label with warning. Mozilla uses experimental. Apple could be missing out on those that what to get a iphone just to see a heated application.
This isn't a new issue for the App Store. In a bit of poor timing on my part, I wrote a piece last week about how political censorship is more important the Google App rejection:
http://www.cloudfour.com/625/freedom-time-google-voice-letter-fcc/
When the news about iSinglePayer came out yesterday, I compared its feature set to the Obama iPhone app that we helped develop:
http://www.cloudfour.com/665/apple-rejects-health-care-reform-app-for-being-politically-charged/
The reality is that we need viable alternatives for mobile that don't require approval of gatekeepers--regardless of whether or not it is Apple.
Exactly, let people decide if they like it or not. if you have an iphone you're old enough to not let an app sway your political views. This is almost as worse as the people who didn't want Obama going to that high school, like he'd brainwash them.
[RE: Drudge Report: "While this is a news-based application, the site is generally regarded as being conservative in tone."]
Understatement of the day. ;)
Anyway, big-brother/nanny Apple has become a joke.
I guess as a Canadian I should assume that Apple (and Apple Canada) dislike our govt. run health care. Maybe the guy should rework and submit the app to Blackberry.
.... two words...GO BLACKBERRY!!
Show of Hands is a great political app