- Researchers from the University of Toronto said that Apple’s engraving service blocked 1,045 keywords in mainland China.
- In Hong Kong, words referring to the Hong Kong democracy movement are also blocked.
- Apple responded to the report, saying that it will process engraving requests based on cultural sensitivity.
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A team of researchers from the University of Toronto accused Apple of its engraving service of reviewing landmark political events and references to activist movements in its stores in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
By entering thousands of phrases in the engraving service on the company’s local website, Researchers of the Human Rights and Technology Research Group CitizenLab It was found that as many as 1,045 keywords were blocked by Apple’s engraving service in mainland China.
In addition, Apple’s service blocked 542 keywords in Hong Kong and 397 in Taiwan.
The researchers also checked keywords in Japan, Canada, and the United States. They found that Apple’s engraving service in these countries/regions prohibits the use of 170 to 206 keywords, most of which are racist and sexist nicknames.
“In mainland China, we found that Apple would censor political content, including extensive references to the Chinese leadership and the Chinese political system, the names of dissidents and independent news organizations, as well as general terms related to religion, democracy, and human rights,” Citizen The laboratory researcher wrote. Jeffrey Knockel and Ruan Lianhua.
For example, in China, the carved “8964” refers to Protest in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, Is not allowed. Taiwan does not allow the use of the Chinese phrases “?????” or “supreme leader”, referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The researchers found that the citation The 2014 Umbrella Revolution and Democracy movement in this city Also facing a full review from Apple’s engraving service.
“We found that some of Apple’s political censorship in mainland China has penetrated Hong Kong and Taiwan. This censorship largely exceeds Apple’s legal obligations in Hong Kong. We know that there is no legal basis for political censorship of content in Taiwan,” Knockel And Ruan wrote.
The researchers also found that Apple’s engraving service reviewed ten random Chinese names with the surname Zhang, even though they had no special political significance.
“Apple does not fully understand what they review,” the researchers wrote. “Not every keyword reviewed is the result of careful consideration. Many seem to have been inadvertently reappropriated from other sources.”
Apple says its engraving requirements take into account cultural sensitivity and local laws
Apple Chief Privacy Officer Jane Horvath responded to CitizenLab researchers in one way Letter of August 17.
In the letter, Horvath stated that Apple was “happy to provide customers with the opportunity to express themselves,” but added that the company has developed guidelines to ensure that “every country and region where we operate respects and abides by local laws. And customs.”
“We try not to allow requests that may represent trademark or intellectual property infringement, vulgarity or cultural insensitivity, may be interpreted as inciting violence, or deemed illegal under the local laws, regulations and regulations of our country and region. Personalization and our Where to ship,” Horvath added.
She said that Apple will process engraving requests “by region” and there is no single “global list” of words and phrases that are prohibited.
“Instead, these decisions are made through a review process, and our team evaluates local laws and their assessment of cultural sensitivity. We re-examine these decisions from time to time,” Horvath said. “Although these teams rely on information from various sources, no third party or government agency is involved in this process.”
according to New York TimesOne-fifth of Apple’s revenue comes from China, and almost all of its products are assembled in China.Apple has also made considerable profits from the region-it Revenue from Greater China in the third quarter of 2021 is US$14.76 billion, An increase of 58.2% over the same period in 2020.
