Apple defends App Store titillation purge

Apple has responded to the controversial removal of titillating content on the App Store, claiming that, when all is said and done, kids' and parents' interests take precedent.

"It came to the point where we were getting customer complaints from women who found the content getting too degrading and objectionable, as well as parents who were upset with what their kids were able to see," Apple's Philip Schiller, head of worldwide product marketing, told the New York Times.

"We obviously care about developers, but in the end have to put the needs of the kids and parents first," he added.

Schiller said things came to a head when "an increasing number of apps containing very objectionable content" were submitted to the Store. Tut tut. [Surely "tit tit". - Ed]

Wobble iBoobs developer Jon Atherton was among the first to find his assets whipped off the App Store. He was given a long list of things to avoid (via Kotaku).

1. "No images of women in bikinis (Ice skating tights are not OK either)
2. "No images of men in bikinis! (I didn't ask about Ice Skating tights for men)
3. "No skin (he seriously said this) (I asked if a Burqa was OK, and the Apple guy got angry)
4. "No silhouettes that indicate that Wobble can be used for wobbling boobs (yes - I am serious, we have to remove the silhouette in [our] pic)
5. "No sexual connotations or innuendo: boobs, babes, booty, sex - all banned
6. "Nothing that can be sexually arousing!! (I doubt many people could get aroused with [our] pic but those puritanical guys at Apple must get off on pretty mundane things to find Wobble overtly sexual!)
7. "No apps will be approved that in any way imply sexual content (not sure how Playboy is still in the store, but...)"

Some content has dodged Apple's beady eye. Sexy swimsuit producer Sports Illustrated has been given the benefit of the doubt.

"The difference is this is a well-known company with previously published material available broadly in a well-accepted format," explained Schiller.