Apple confirms Confederate flag ban in App Store, says war games have to change art
Apple on Thursday confirmed that it has removed a number of games and other apps from the App Store because they contain images of the Confederate battle flag.
"We have removed apps from the App Store that use the Confederate flag in offensive or mean-spirited ways, which is in violation of our guidelines," a spokesperson said to BuzzFeed News. The company denied issuing a blanket ban however, stating that the flag can be shown for "educational or historical uses."
The decision has, however, forced a number of American Civil War games off of the App Store, even though developers insist the Confederate flag was only used to be historically accurate.
Sources told BuzzFeed that Apple is working with affected game developers to get their apps back in the App Store. The company is reportedly asking them to remove or replace the offending flag, however. One developer, HexWar, previously said it would resubmit with a less familiar 1861 version of the flag.
The racist killing of nine people at a South Carolina church last week has since led to a widespread campaign to remove the Confederate flag from public spaces, including government buildings and stores such as Amazon, eBay, and Walmart. For black Americans, the flag is often seen as a symbol of the slavery the Confederacy imposed on ancestors.
"We have removed apps from the App Store that use the Confederate flag in offensive or mean-spirited ways, which is in violation of our guidelines," a spokesperson said to BuzzFeed News. The company denied issuing a blanket ban however, stating that the flag can be shown for "educational or historical uses."
The decision has, however, forced a number of American Civil War games off of the App Store, even though developers insist the Confederate flag was only used to be historically accurate.
Sources told BuzzFeed that Apple is working with affected game developers to get their apps back in the App Store. The company is reportedly asking them to remove or replace the offending flag, however. One developer, HexWar, previously said it would resubmit with a less familiar 1861 version of the flag.
The racist killing of nine people at a South Carolina church last week has since led to a widespread campaign to remove the Confederate flag from public spaces, including government buildings and stores such as Amazon, eBay, and Walmart. For black Americans, the flag is often seen as a symbol of the slavery the Confederacy imposed on ancestors.
Comments
Does the iOS version of Wolfenstein 3D still have the Nazi flag?
Actually, I don't care about flags or symbols, but that's speaking from privilege. I know it means a lot to some, and half of them I empathize with, and the other half are goons.
Flags AND Hitler!
Maybe they'll replace Hitler with a teletubby. (Actually, that might be more offensive to some.) Maybe just the word, "Hitler."
How INCREDIBLY STUPID. Apple has really gone off the deep end on this one. Control freaks.
No, that's okay, Obama uses it in podcast interviews.
ugg..
I'm just waiting for the US flag and the Union Jack to be gone. Plenty of people find them offensive too.
So who gets to decide what is offensive or mean-spirited?
Apple, it's their store.
Good luck with that Apple. I think I'll be spending money elsewhere. Thank goodness for local bookstores and music shops. I don't see the need to cough up money for Apple Music either.
Bye Bye.
Does the iOS version of Wolfenstein 3D still have the Nazi flag?
Most non-historical games do not use the Nazi swastika flag, or even the Nazi name due to laws in Europe. Usually they use the pre-Nazi Iron Cross.
Also note that the Japanese national and military flags have been the same since 1870 (except that they shifted the military flag over slightly 1954 and changed some of the national flag proportions in 1999).
Yeah, I know European restrictions are more stringent. I understand Apple's (evolving) stance on the matter.
I guess the pharmaceutical corporations are all for the flag topic as a distraction away from the insanity their SSRI drugs cause, though. (SSRI drugs can kill your impulse control)
I thought Apple was a liberal company that supported free speech and First Amendment rights. Should Apple next remove any apps that reference the Bible since some people find the bible offensive?
The nationalist pride and flag abuse in the USA makes some of us USA citizens feel gross too. I find the USA flag to represent arrogance any more.
Is it ever enough for you people? Ever? You have destroyed this country beyond recognition. There is no recovery here.
When does it end? When we're in concentration camps? Gas chambers?
I'm sure Apple doesn't read AI forums.
Target your anger/aggression here: http://www.apple.com/feedback/
Does the iOS version of Wolfenstein 3D still have the Nazi flag?
Were Nazis portrayed as the good guys in Wolfenstein?