This just keeps getting more and more ridiculous. Before I begin, let me start out by saying that all things being equal, I have no problem with the Apple putting Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf into the App Store, as they have today, as both The Next Web and Edible Apple spotted. It’s a book, it’s a rather big part of history, it’s in book stores, etc. That said, all things are not equal in the App Store, not even close. And by Apple’s own standards there is no way this should have been approved.
Let me remind everyone that Apple rejected a Someecards application last month partially due to the fact that one of the cards included was mocking Hitler (and more specifically, the film Inglourious Basterds). They flat out rejected it, didn’t require a certain rating for the satire, just rejected it. So when you see Mein Kampf in the store, complete with a swastika as its icon, you’ll forgive me if I’m a bit dumbfounded.
Not only that, the app is rated 9+. So apparently, 9 year-olds are good to go to read about the “Jewish plot” and other anti-Semitic bile. Also perfectly fine for the App Store are apps that focus on upskirt pictures, and Asian Boobs. But satire? Nope, that’s too hardcore.
This version of Mein Kampf is in Spanish, so maybe that’s what allowed it to slip by the App Store guardians. But that’s no excuse. If the Nazi logo didn’t raise a red flag, I’m not sure what will. The point is that Apple is so ridiculously hypocritical (or, at the very least, incompetent) with its selection process and it just keeps getting worse.
Here’s an idea.
Remove the app approval process.
The only requirement should be that the information of the app does not misrepresent what the app actually does.
Agreed. It is stupid and damaging to Apple. If you can succeed in taking somebody who’s used your products since the Apple II and turning them into virulent frothing Android fans, you have accomplished what nothing outside of that stupid screed has.
The app approval process must have as its only goals to keep users from confusing apps with iTunes and to prevent Tipper Gore from creating an anti-app committee. Ratings, malicious code, and privacy issues should be their only concerns.
Though I think Apple goes off the deep end when it comes to approving their apps they have to watch out for liability. You Tube is STILL in a suit for Viacom and and plenty of other companies are involved in lawsuits because businesses EXPECT that companies like Apple, YouTube, etc… have some type of approval process. Again, yes Apple does go to far sometimes – but I would hate the store to have no approval process whatsoever. There is so much crap on the store now, I can only imagine that the store would be mostly crap if there was no approval process at all.
Has Apple ever been sued for a third party app on Mac OS X? No.
Microsoft, with Windows? No.
Apple has an OS (iPhone OS). They don’t NEED to be the shop for all software. Removing the approval process by allowing other installation methods is THE right answer, and there’s NO legal risk.
As for the App Store being even more filled with crap, there would be approximately no difference. Apple doesn’t filter for quality, period (nor should they). What you WOULD have, in an open process, is more innovation and applications that help the user, instead of Apple and AT&T’s bottom lines.
I totally agree with your comment Vinod.
here’s a better idea: android market does this already.
FYI the app has been removes from the App Store. Not sure who decided (apple, publisher?)
http://blog.app...worked-the-nazi
Not all reviewers are born equal….
If this was submitted 2 hours later there’s a good chance it would not have gone through.
Very true, but how can you explain that when each app is reviewed by two separate people?
If it got past the first one by mistake, it most certainly shouldn’t have got past the second.
Well when you’re marketing based on the number of apps and not the quality of apps you’ve got to let some things slide.
Yeah. It would have been funny if this was their millionth app or whatever they’re on.
Apple celebrates it’s 1 millionth app! Congratulations… Mein Kampf?
This is so stupid. They missed the swastika?
And doesn’t this create problems since Mein Kampf is banned in certain countries that have access to the app store?
So did the ancient Hindus…
BTW, the way it’s rotating essentially means discord, and the opposite direction means peace.
“So did the ancient Hindus…”
And the not-so-ancient: “it remains widely used in Eastern and Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.” http://en.wikip...g/wiki/Swastika
And what country is the appstore approval process done in? Perhaps Apple needs to give some kind of cultural sensitivity training to their outsourced provider?
Swastika in standing position (45 degrees) means Nazi symbol.
Swastika with edge in horizontal position means Good Luck in Hindu culture. It is an integral part of the tradition and very widespread.
Exercise some restraint when you see a swastika in Asian countries. They don’t mean Nazi symbols
That ’s right. Germany has some strict laws that prohibit the use of nazi-symbols like the swastika. Only historic documentations are excepted.
Also “Mein Kampf” is (at present) NOT up for sale here.
I did just check, the app is indeed up for sale in the German app store. Selling this app in Germany is an illegal action by Apple because the book is indexed in Germany and may not be sold for purposes other than research work. In addition any nazi symbol may not be publicly displayed or sold (with few exceptions that do not apply).
I hope that Apple gets prosecuted for this.
Fucking Germans cheerleading the idea of prosecuting people for selling books. (Yes, Apple is a hypocrite in this story, but few things gall me more than Germans defending the criminilization of information.)
criminalization of information? Mein Kampf is not a history book.
Even in the US we restrict access to certain dangerous information. We just have a different definition of what we here consider to be dangerous.
In Germany, the democratic government has decided that the Nazi ideology is very dangerous (seems to be well supported by their history) and suppresses it in all forms. I don’t think that it’s fair for non-Germans to say that the German government is being foolish.
The book itself is not illegal in Germany. It is not published because the federal state of Bavaria owns the copyright (it is not clear to me if they own the copyright for the spanish version) as Lev has already written. But you can still own your copy, sell your personal copy or order a copy from the US.
But the app icon is most likely illegal in Germany as it is a nazi symbol (looks like a NSDAP party membership pin). There are few exception where the use of nazi symbols is not illegal (e.g. history books where the symbol is put into context).
Fun fact: since Hitlers estate was given into the posession of Bavaria, copyrights to “Mein Kampf” are also property of the German federal state (until 12-31-2015).
Licencing rights for all English versions were ceded in the 30ies by Adolf himself (Random House is for example the UK rights owner). This is not the case for the spanish version.
So this might be not just be a stupid move by Apple but also copyright infringement…
source: http://en.wikip...wiki/Mein_Kampf
hmm – that’s interesting.
Mein Kampf
http://www.dock...e4882622e#p1996
There really is no excuse for this, absolutely none. Period.
Way to go Apple! You morons! You can’t have nudity, but you can sieg hiel. NICE!
Well, you can apparently have all the “boob apps” you want, as long as they’re “Asian Boobs”… Go figure.
There is absolutely no excuse for this; none at all. Period.
It’s there way of getting the attention from new developers. Not that they really need it… But stuff like this would for example now appear on the front page of every spanish newspaper and media channel . Good throw
Here’s another idea – Wasn’t there a clause in the Apple Dev agreement about refunds where the dev needs to refund %100 percent, but Apple still keeps a chunk?
If so, let’s all buy the app and return for a refund and bury the mofos.
Why do you want to bury the developer? They did nothing wrong unless you are going to suggest that we start banning books… at which point than do you want to start the book burning?
Sorry. I misread. Thought it was a nazi org app vs Mein Kampf. Still wouldn’t mind burning books like that, although others are free to buy.
Outrageous…
I really hope that it’ll be removed ASAP, and that the Apple reviewing guy will get slapped for this.
It’s a historical doument? Are you the type of person that wants to ban books simply because you disagree with them? C’mon.
let’s see what happens when someone publish an app with a book containing cartoons of the Muslim prophet. I guarantee it will be banned on the app store.
actually they are right on with this. obviously hitler was an ass, but his book is recognized piece of literature. if you dont like it. dont buy it. i won’t be.
but if you ban it you are essentially doing what the nazis did. no digital book burns.
I don’t think anyone (including MG, since he states he has no issue with it IN THE POST) has an issue with this being approved.
What they have an issue with is THIS being approved when other things, that are far less egregious, get banned.
There are several commenters saying it should not have been approved. See just above your own comment:
Jeremie Kletzkine “Outrageous…I really hope that it’ll be removed ASAP…”
Im pretty sure thats what scamalert was referring to.
With regards to that…Even evil literature can teach us something. It might not be what the author intended, but we can learn from it nonetheless.
and think how cool it’ll be when you can show someone your iphone and it has a swastica on the home screen. sweet! total street cred.
yes, what jeremy said.
*essentially doing what the nazis did
MINUS the killing of millions humans.
We live in a country where ideas can be shared. I do not agree with anything Hitler did. That said, this book is a part of history and a look into the mind of the greatest evil of modern day.
The book is available in US book stores, why not a US digital store.
great point scamalert!
agreed.
Maybe Jobs connects somehow with this book
Ding, ding, ding! This comment thread has been Godwined!
Such is the problem with censorship, you’re always going to offend someone.
I do have a problem even without the icon MG. Printed books and PDF are more than enough for it as historical document. None will be lost if don’t carry it 24×7 as an iPhone app.
Dumb Apple. They missed the one case that could justify the app store censorship. If not basic ethical values, at least PR should reject it.
Who, then, decides what books merit being available digitally?
It does seem a little like they throw darts at a dart board to decide what gets in the app store doesn’t it.
I’d like to see them allow all apps in and only reject those with quality issues so that we can decide for ourselves what we do and do not want to do. I do not like having my decisions made for me. At least not on the level I can actually control anyway.
Want to glorify Hitler? There’s an app for that!
Unbelievable. The app store need to be democratized; central control doesn’t scale.
I cannot *wait* to see what Internet Hitler has to say about this!
wait a second. TechCrunch you distract me daily and i love it. i left my bunker in the earth’s core where me and all the other jews control your banks to say WHAT?!
this nice jewish girl can’t send an inglorious basterds ecard through an iPhone but can read about how a WWI thug felt sorry for himself in prison? let me just say, this guy hitler was also a pretty lame leader. He sacrificed his own nation and committed suicide in a dank bunker leaving the arian race nothing less than desimated. and killed my family and your family and your family along the way. But you knew that.
I’ve read Mein Kampf. MG you nail it. There is no problem with making dangerous document available. BUT it’s absurd that i can’t send you or me or everyone we know an inglorious basterds ecard. Now that you’ve pointed this out, I’m hell bent on doing so. WTF
either way it’s a nice touch that the only version is in spanish. In 1492 Spain kicked out all the jews (muslims too) and declared it illegal for any of us to live in Spain 1492. that law was not repealed until 1992.
que sera sera
yup.
Dude someone should make an app for the Unibomber Manifesto and see if that gets approved…
or how about an app for the Anarchists Cookbook…
at the very least, these kinds of apps should have a mature rating.
You’ve made the only useful comment on this article – there should be an adequate rating system instead of cencorship.
Putting a book on the App Store is putting a book on the app store, and has nothing to do with another app with entirely non-related content getting accepted or rejected.
Except that it really does, since it’s the same approval process it goes through, and other apps are being rejected based only on their ‘offensive content’. If Mein Kampf is not offensive enough, what is?
A public, community enforced set of guidelines would be greatly prefered to Apple’s internal blessing.
Bah, looking forward to a Droid (hopefully that app store will be more web neutral).
Firstly, I do think that the App Store is seriously flawed with regards to its selection process.
Secondly, I don’t believe there is such a thing as 100% free speech. There are limits in a democratic society; and courts and legislatures pass laws all the time to limit speech.
It may be unpopular to say this, but there are things that can and should be suppressed. Germany, for example has very strict anti-nazi laws. I’m not saying that “My Struggle” should be banned… but I wouldn’t lose any sleep if it was…. Read more
I guess kind of muddied my own argument, but this brings up very strong emotions. Ultimately I’m just shocked that Apple would do such a thing.
Wow, what a mess (I’m referring to myself)
Maybe the App Store will ban right-wing authors like Ann Coulter & Michael Savage because Apple Loons find them offensive too?
I seriously do not see what is wrong with this. For anybody studying the Holocaust or genocide in general, Mein Koff is a key book to read. I doubt that many people these days would read it for pleasure (since it is written by Hitler and because he rambles a lot in it). It is very useful for any historian.
Fair enough, now what’s wrong with e-cards?
So um, let me get this straight
Apple refuses to approve Trillian and a bunch of other apps — but allows hitler stuff? wowsa!
some1 call the FTC !
someone’s panties are in a bunch.
One note though: in some countries, it is illegal to actually sell Mein Kampf. This includes France and Germany. Any words on how Apple is going to handle that?
Also , the state of Bavaria holds the rights to Mein Kampf
Is there any point in actually pointing this out? Those that want to like Apple will like them and find an excuse, no matter how ridiculous, and those that actually know something about computers and software will eventually realize Apple is all of M$’s arrogance with less openness.
Hear, hear, JB! AAPL needs badly to lay out, and stick to, an explicit, logical, and strict set of rules for apps. We know the iPhone sux as a phone… http://is.gd/4P6rr …and we may not need it as a mobile computer, either.
How can you not see a difference between an educational book and something that makes fun of Hitler? I’m not saying that I like Apple’s policies – but this is not a case of accepting the same thing that they rejected earlier.
Why surprised?
Apple is a left wing company.
The left has always been comfortable with antisemitism.
After all the Nazis were the National SOCIALIST party
Wait, what? It’s one thing to see Godwin’s law put into practice before even hitting the comments section, but this is just too much.
I can’t stand Apple, let me get that out of the way now. I have my reasons, but people who agree already know and people who don’t will just argue. That’s fine with me.
But to compare Apple to the Nazi party is beyond ridiculous.
On a side note, anyone who is anti-socialism, go ahead and pull your kids out of public school. Also, avoid those interstate highways. Don’t file for unemployment if you lose your job – that’s socialism too. Don’t even think about collection social security when you retire – it’s so socialist it has ’social’ right in the name!
Fearmongering against socialism is all well and good, but it’s not based in reality. The Nazi party was, as you say, national socialism – a totalitarian system which opposes democratic socialism.
To wrap it all up, I really hope Apple gets into legal trouble in Germany with this. I’ve had enough of their pretentiousness.
He should also close his Facebook account, since it’s ‘SOCIAL networking’
Hey guys, wake up. Every story on Apple/iPhone/Steve Jobs is essentially a link bait, to get more traffic and more ad $$$ for Techcrunch. Let’s not forget, TC is a for profit business, and they know this game very, very well. Bring it on!
That’s the most idiotic comment I’ve read all week. Which is saying something.
ok i did research.
thats more than just a nazi logo. it’s a golden party badge of the NSDAP. only the most elite levels of NSDAP members were entitled to them. all of the leaders in inglorious basterds wore them. it has very special meaning in nazi history and is a clear attempt to glorify the philosophy that is contained in mein kampf. here’s a wiki page on it. http://en.wikip...den_Party_Badge
this is officially creepy.
I’m with you on this- officially creepy. I believe in protecting our first amendment rights- not just some rights- ALL rights. So having rejected satire but then accepting Mein Kampf? Wow.
awesome! from wikipedia: “It was worn by the first 100,000 members of the party. Adolf Hitler’s Golden Party Badge had the number ‘1′. He gave it to Magda Goebbels … She called it, “The greatest honour any German could receive”.
Maybe the app is only available to first 100,000 downloaders…
Question is, who got number 1?
yeah that’s very interesting. thanks for looking that up corey.
The emphasis here has been completely placed on the “Hitler” issue (it’s hard not to, I realize) and not the “public figure” issue. That’s the problem.
Reading Apple’s original rejection letter, it’s obvious that the App Store’s legal guidelines are meant to protect it from lawsuits claiming, for one, defamation of character. And here’s the perverse truth: apps that feature upskirt pictures or Asian boobs, while in absolutely horrendous taste, don’t feature potentially “defamatory” content; apps that insult public figures (even the most reprehensible ones) do open up Apple to lawsuit risk.
At this point, Apple is guilty of cheaply covering its own ass—but not, as you suggest, of “hypocrisy.”
Hm, I don’t see a problem.
I mean Amazon is selling Mein Kampf sinces years (e.g. http://www.amaz...r/dp/817224164X) in the USA. It is allowed. So.. if Amazon is allowed to do it, Apple should sell Hitler’s book, too.
… if Hitler would still be alive, the $1.99 price tag would have killed him for sure lol
Oh no this is really a shame that amazon is selling a 70-year-old-piece-of-papers.
If someone has read it he will findout how dull and boring it is. I forced myself to complete it.
It is some rhztorics that are reapeated again and again all over the book.
There are plenty of threats to the new generation than such abook full of dust !!!
I am puzzled to see such a topic in a tech website
I’d be happy the day not banning a book doesn’t make news.
ok let me say it differentl
WHO THE HELL CARES ABOUT MEIN KEMPF, IS IT A DAMN TECH WEBSITE OR A POLITICAL ONE
dunno, you’re the one YELLING.
Caps lock – cruise control for cool, eh?
Apple might say that they have not approved it yet and are “studying” like in case of the Google Voice App.
Hitler Book should not be published in the App Store.
If Apple let everything be published, it’s one thing.
But if Apple Choose to monitor the App Store, this book should not be there.
This is not the first time that Apple making a decision that Can be looked as raciest.
so we should ban “Satanic Verses” because muslims have a fatwa against it?
I’ll have to go with ACLU on this one.
Its unfortunately a part of human history, banning copies of the book is rediculos even in Germany Id rather be around people that are well informed, of the goings on upto WW2.
Than idiot PC naysayers, who cant handle the truth or the slightest bit of reality.
But it does beg the question if Apple banned another App with Hitler Insults then why approve this?
If you think that reading “Mein Kampf” is the only way to get information about WW2, then you’re pretty far removed from reality…
I live in Germany, the country that indeed bans the sale of “Mein Kampf”, and while going through school here, we went through the history of WW2 on 4 separate occasions: in 2nd grade, in 6th, in 8th to 9th and in 12th.
The typical German gets an amount of information about the history of what led up to WW2, what happened during WW2 as well as what happened afterwards, that reading “Mein Kampf” would add absolutely nothing of value to it.
The fact that there are idiots in this country, as well as in other countries, that still believe that the Nazi’s ideology isn’t all that bad (not saying that that’s your opinion) is, to me, by far more worrying than the fact that “Mein Kampf” is banned here.
Why are App Store rejection stories still getting press? You bought a phone with a closed ecosystem, and Apple makes decisions on what apps get in the store. You deal with it when you buy an iPhone. It’s not press anymore…it never was pressworthy in the first place.
Why are trees good? Why’s a rainbow good?
They just are. End of story.
Sorry, MG, but your post has absolutely no merit in common sense.
Mein Kampf is not ‘bile’. It is, like you admitted before going off on a tangent, and extremely important history book. I first read it when I was about 12, and would not hesitate to recommend it to any 9 year-old. It is as important historically as the writings of Mao or Lenin.
In this light, comparing it to boob apps or silly satirical apps is comparing apples to drill bits. You have zero point being made here.
You had me at “recommend it to any 9 year-old”
This document is the seed for world war II which caused about 60 million people.
Now, a book that started a killing with the size of about 20% of the entire US population, deserves an iPhone app? a kids recommendations?
Jobs just thought it was a management training book.
Jobs just thought “Oh – that reads like my own autobiography”.
Who do they have reviewing these apps?
Its not swastika, Its the reverse swastika .
Journalism does not account for being behind a desk giving opinion and unbiased points which Tech Crunch exhibits on its (own pages) all to frequently.
Half the ” Stories ” they deem to be News Worthy at Tech Crunch are spam from MG Sieglers eleven year old mentality on the world, to note that most of us do not even live in to be of relevance.
It would finally be nice if Tech Crunch even had an Editorial.
We will let him off hes from Belgium.
If each time a book and/or video must be removed because it does not appeal to someone.
There won’t be any culture, coz each one of us has a list of hundreds of books and videos that in his own opinion should be banned.
While this is a normal subject in a political forum, discussing it a TECH website and make it a scoop and use BUZZ words to attract attention, I find it completely nuts.
Besides I don’t see any added value for Techcrunch and its visitors. I come here to learn what’s new in the IT industry and not to have someone’s personal political opinion.
All those commenting about Swastika, must shut up and read this before —
http://en.wikip...g/wiki/Swastika
It has more meaning than maybe you are commenting on, its holy in many religion even today and was before Hitler.
kind of gives a new meaning to “Think Different.”