YNOT – An image-browsing application that attempted to sneak into Apple’s iTunes Apps Store by disguising porn behind a collection of precious pups was submitted and approved, then unmasked and unceremoniously booted Monday, all within fewer than 24 hours.forChan, which was designed to allow thumbnail-browsing of image board sites, came pre-loaded with pics of “live nude dogs.” Behind the app’s innocent façade, however, lay a dark secret: One quick tweak, and the app became a ready-to-go hardcore-porn browser.
It’s unclear whether forChan’s developer intended porn browsing to be among the app’s capabilities, although Apple’s censors rated the $1 product “17+” from the get-go. Nexus404.com reported the item’s description even warned potential purchasers about “nudity and sex.” In that case, someone at Apple had to know about the app’s potential…which brings into question the whole “Apple as arbiter of decency” notion.
Nevertheless, the developer reported forChan was approved Apple’s censors within 12 hours of submission. By 2 p.m. Monday, forChan was history.
To be fair, it should be noted that forChan’s developer may not have intended the app to be used for porn browsing. The tweak was made public by a third-party, iHustleApps. PocketGamer.co.uk reported the forChan developer asked iHustleApps to create the backdoor.
“It’s important to note that forChan does not contain an Easter egg,” iHustleApps President Charles Rodriguez told PocketGamer. “There is no code within the actual app which enables the adults-only feature. We simply programmed it with dual functionality.
“Using forChan in this capacity is no different than visiting an adults-only site with a web browser app purchased from iTunes,” he added.
Regardless, Apple took a dim view of the widely publicized hack and dropped the axe … presumably after both iTunes and forChan realized at least a few bucks.
Apple has been criticized for an App Store censorship policy that is vague, too severe, and at times seemingly capricious. Although a few softcore adult-type apps have wormed their way in after lengthy reviews designed to ensure no nudity affronts the eyes of App Store patrons, Apple founder Steve Jobs has not changed his position about content since he opened the doors to the e-tail location in June 2008.
“There are going to be some apps that we’re not going to distribute,” Jobs said at the time. “Porn, malicious apps, apps that invade your privacy.”
Note the position of porn in that list.
