Comments on: Apple Denies Free Political Speech

By: EPorvaznik

EPorvaznik — Mon, 24 May 2010 03:59:47 +0000

Ahhhh, 1984 Big Brother ad now firmly on the other foot. However, Ari, as others have mentioned, it is their business, regardless of how flimsy and hypocritical their reasoning. Screw 'em and build a better and different mousetrap.

By: ksj

ksj — Sun, 23 May 2010 21:01:28 +0000

If there are IPhone apps that support other candidates then they pretty much have to let them all in. There are federal election laws that regulate this. Like it or not, Apple is now a publisher and can be regulated as such in the context of election law.

By: Roy

Roy — Sun, 23 May 2010 14:28:39 +0000

This sounds like free market at work. You should be proud.

By: Julian

Julian — Sun, 23 May 2010 13:06:44 +0000

Hilarious. Who mentioned google? You are telling people not to spout party lines yet it’s obvious you are an apple fanboy. This entire thread I’d funny – loads of rebplican and apple g
fanboys talking utter rubbish.

By: Vas Sudanagunta

Vas Sudanagunta — Sun, 23 May 2010 10:08:47 +0000

Dude, Apple is a private enterprise, not a government. I think you're a little confused.

By: Vas Sudanagunta

Vas Sudanagunta — Sun, 23 May 2010 09:59:42 +0000

You're running for government office and yet you, Mr. David, don't even know what the right of "free speech" is! The constitutionally enshrined right of free speech protects you from any *government* curtailment of your speech. It does not require any private party to grant you any freedom of speech on a medium owned by that private channel.

It's especially ironic that you make this claim since you are a Republican — presumably like other Republicans you give supremacy to private property rights. If the Tea Party had any consistency, they'd show up on this page and brand you a Socialist!

By: DLG

DLG — Sun, 23 May 2010 01:55:16 +0000

I never realized that private companies were mandated to sell or distribute political messages. Sounds like Republicans aren't so concerned about government interference when they are the ones who feel wronged. Hurrah for hypocrisy!

By: wiltjk

wiltjk — Sat, 22 May 2010 22:49:30 +0000

I would think that if the app were about the candidate, events, timelines, etc. and nothing about the opponent (whether factual or otherwise), it would have a much better chance for approval.

As stated in this post, it is obvious that normal politics are at play using every opportunity to detract your opponent and promote yourself.

All in all, a good call by Apple.

By: eidooc

eidooc — Sat, 22 May 2010 22:23:26 +0000

sounds like YOU got suckered in by your developers DOOD. Any developer that’s familiar with Apple’s App Store approval process would have informed you of the possibility of your app not getting approved (for whatever reason) and would have SUGGESTED a WEB app approach to reach as many mobile users possible anyway.

By: MODERN1ST

MODERN1ST — Sat, 22 May 2010 19:29:10 +0000

There's no comparison. Apple's not saying they won't sell devices or software TO anybody. They are saying they won't sell defamatory software. It's about what they won't sell, not who they are selling to.

So, yeah – suck it up like a good free-market ideologue. Nobody can force Apple to sell software that violates their developer's agreement, which is a private contract between Apple and people who use Apple's App Store to sell software on Apple-branded devices. Arguing your "rights" to violate that contract and to appropriate Apple's property to push your ideology sounds like "socialism" except that it's not nearly so principled.