Microsoft details improvements to Windows Phone Marketplace
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 1st May 2012 09:46 UTC
Windows Microsoft has detailed some of its new policies to improve the Windows Phone Marketplace, and this one, about possibly sexual content, stood out to me: "We think the right solution is (a) to be transparent about what's acceptable and (b) to show the right merchandise to the right customer in the right place. Our content policies are clearly spelled out: we don't allow apps containing 'sexually suggestive or provocative' images or content. What we do permit is the kind of content you occasionally see on prime-time TV or the pages of a magazine's swimsuit issue." This is one of my major issues with application stores: American values are archaic and puritan compared to where I'm from, but the application stores we use are still subject to them. I wonder if two kissing men are considered to be "sexually suggestive", "provocative", "racy", or "inappropriate" by American standards.
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Curation is worse than the disease
by tomz on Tue 1st May 2012 11:47 UTC
tomz
Member since:
2010-05-06

Then code for Android.

Microsoft and Apple have the right to run their program prisons as they want.

However, remember it isn't just porn. It can be racism, sedition, or many other things they will ban depending on country. The United States is unique with its First Amendment freedom of speech.

Would you be so loud in your defense of (neo)Nazi apps to Germany, or to the USA? Tobacco apps? Methlab howtos?

Reply Score: 1

Thom_Holwerda Member since:
2005-06-29

Would you be so loud in your defense of (neo)Nazi apps to Germany, or to the USA? Tobacco apps? Methlab howtos?


Yes, because a few tits or kissing men is totally the same as nazism and meth. Totally.

As for tobacco - I don't care. If people want to smoke, let them. It's their body, not mine or the state's.

Reply Parent Score: 3

Radio Member since:
2009-06-20

The United States is unique with its First Amendment freedom of speech.

Yeah, because no other country on Earth gives freedom of speech. God be blessed to have given humanity this single beacon of freedom in this barbaric world.

Never heard of the universal declaration of human rights - article 19 in particular -, eh?

Reply Parent Score: 4

chithanh Member since:
2006-06-18

In most countries, freedom of speech has lower protection than in the US. European countries for example often censor political speech. In many parts of Asia and South America, press freedom is additionally suffering from restrictions. And don't get me started on Africa.

Reply Parent Score: 1

Read more of this thread... >
sagum Member since:
2006-01-23

I've owned a Windows Phone for some time now, and the market place has become ridden with stupid sexy woman apps and apps that use the name of others, such as netflix when they don't provide netflix streaming.

I hope Microsoft do clear up the mess that has been created. However, I also think it should be a free market and have an option to opt-in to the market place to download at least the adult apps.

The trade mark name issue is something that is more a legal matter (via company) rather then a 'who must not see' matter.

Reply Parent Score: 1