The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

You're viewing an article in TMO's historic archive vault. Here, we've preserved the comments and how the site looked along with the article. Use this link to view the article on our current site:
Adult-Oriented Podcasts on iTunes Under Scrutiny

Adult-Oriented Podcasts on iTunes Under Scrutiny

by , 8:00 AM EDT, July 22nd, 2005

Along with podcasts on computers, wine and long distance running, Apple Computer is getting headlines for the addition of what some are calling "porncasts" through its links on iTunes.

A report in Friday's Wall Street Journal reveals Apple is offering access to "raunchy sex banter, erotic storytelling sessions and reviews of pornographic sites" through podcasts links via iTunes.

"As podcasting reaches a more mainstream audience, the more risque audio shows -- and Apple's role in distributing them -- could come under greater scrutiny," wrote WSJ reporter Vauhini Vara, although she quoted no one openly criticizing Apple or complaints from religious groups.

Apple declined to say whether any of its users have complained about the adult podcasts. The company said it could potentially pull programs that it deems too explicit, but declined to say whether it has yet to do so. An Apple spokesperson said the service has no specific guidelines as to what constitutes explicit content, and asks those submitting podcasts to the company to admit to explicit content when they do.

"If for some reason we miss it, customers usually catch it," Kerris said.

The report points to two podcasts -- "Fetish Flame" and "Open Source Sex" -- as podcasts containing openly explicit sex talk. Podcasters argue that by labeling their shows as "explicit," they should be free to say whatever they want. "I don't have to censor my language or anyone else's language," said Ms. Blue of "Open Source Sex." "It's like the dog is off the leash."

But for Apple, one analyst cautioned the computer company should be careful. "Apple needs to be careful to protect its brand here," said Ted Schadler, an analyst at Forrester Research. "The editorial function is just getting more and more important."

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:John F. Braun -   TMO Staff Posts: 233 Joined: 11 Jun 2001
Subject: The Children

But just think of the children!!!

Seriously, they may have to put something in place to verify age. Having an iTMS account, with a credit card as a payment vehicle, may be one way. I don't think those below a certain age can get a credit card, at least not easily.



Last edited by John F. Braun on Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:37 am; edited 1 time in total
Reply | Quote
Close Name:DeepDish Posts: 57 Joined: 25 Jun 2001
Subject: Let me decide!!!

Come on Apple.

Don't parent me.

Require an adult .mac account if you need to, but don't limit me.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Freedom of Choice

This is the United States of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. Censorship, which is an action by government to completely stop certain kinds of speech, very rarely happens here.

At the same time, Apple is not required by any law or any ethical reasoning to provide links to podcasts that feature pornography, or KKK hate speech for that matter. Those podcasts can still be accessed through iTunes, and even subscribed to through iTunes, without Apple having to provide the links. Hustler is a legal purchase in the United States, but grocery stores are not required to sell it, nor are they censoring for not selling it.

Greg Lawhorn
"The guarantee of freedom of speech does include an audience."

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Oh please...

Just because it's not listed in iTunes doesn't mean you can't get it. Companies like Apple need to think about a broad segment of the population. There is absolutely no reason why they should risk bad press and public sentiment to advertise someone elses' product.
The whole idea here is to convert people to iTunes and iPod ergo Apple products. Apple doesn't make any money linking podcasts (I'd imagine). It's just a marketing tool. And you wouldn't market using questionable material would you?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Land of the free and home of the brave?

Is that a joke or what? Ask that to the rest of the world living outside "America"'s bubble...

Close Name:Guest
Subject: 'EXPLICT' icon

They have the icon on there just like the explict music on the iTMS. I think they should keep all the podcasts there but force them to sign on to an iTMS just to do some age checking ... so a kid doesn't 'accidently' download a sex themed podcast and have his mom sue Apple.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: What are you driving at?

Quote
Guest wrote:
Is that a joke or what? Ask that to the rest of the world living outside "America"'s bubble...

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Don't you believe it!

Quote
Guest wrote:
This is the United States of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. Censorship, which is an action by government to completely stop certain kinds of speech, very rarely happens here.
<roflol>

Yeah, right. If that were true, then the FDA wouldn't be able to raid book publishers and seize and burn cookbooks merely for mentioning the fact that stevia can be used as a sweetener. Just one tiny example of draconian censorship in the good ol' US of A.

It often doesn't make headlines because, well, "this is the land of the free," afterall, don't you know? As Mark Twain said, in America free speech is confined to the dead.

Close Name:kevdo Posts: 54 Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Subject: Difference between "explicit" R rated vs. X Rated

It'd be nice if there was a distinction between "explicit" programming that is basically just a light level of F and S profanity, vs. the "explicit" programming that is much more sexually oriented.

I think that's an important distinction and I'd hope that all the "explicit" shows aren't banned.

Close Name:Small White Car Posts: 1960 Joined: 02 Jul 2004
Subject: Re: Difference between "explicit" R rated vs. X Ra

Quote
kevdo wrote:
It'd be nice if there was a distinction between "explicit" programming that is basically just a light level of F and S profanity, vs. the "explicit" programming that is much more sexually oriented.

I think that's an important distinction and I'd hope that all the "explicit" shows aren't banned.


They should just adopt the movie-rating system for Podcasts and then allow a system admin. to set what level iTunes is allowed to download without a password.

So parents can set it to whatever level they want and the rest of us can leave the feature off. I have no problem with giving the OPTION of this kind of control for those who want it since doing something like that could be enough to keep them from having to actually remove anything.

Close Name:rezonate Posts: 741 Joined: 04 Feb 2005
Subject: What is Explicit and what is Offensive, anyway?

Why is SEX offensive (arguably an "act of love") but blowing body parts all over the place (an "act of hate") is OK? What should we be trying to promote to our kids? I'd love for someone to ask Hillary Clinton that one. "Let's censor the game where you willfully have to unlock the sex as Obscene, but still allow the killing." Or "let's censor Podcasts that talk about natural human behavior".

I know what I'd rather listen to. 2600's Off The Hook, or Democracy Now. Good old subversion without the sex or violence.

Close Name:Guest
Subject:

Quote
Guest wrote:
Quote
Guest wrote:
This is the United States of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. Censorship, which is an action by government to completely stop certain kinds of speech, very rarely happens here.
<roflol>

Yeah, right. If that were true, then the FDA wouldn't be able to raid book publishers and seize and burn cookbooks merely for mentioning the fact that stevia can be used as a sweetener. Just one tiny example of draconian censorship in the good ol' US of A.

It often doesn't make headlines because, well, "this is the land of the free," afterall, don't you know? As Mark Twain said, in America free speech is confined to the dead.


Well, just ask our fellow "Americans" about the number of pro-Palestinian or at least neutral opinions in newspapers and news channels, and you'll get an additional hint on "America"'s freedom of speech...not to mention the fact that "weapons of mass destruction" have their biggest stockpile in the U.S. of A..

But the funniest thing I heard some days ago from an "American" was when I said that in my country we had a good proportion of Afro-Americans as well...his wonderful reply: "huh, you mean Afro-Latinos??"

My desired reply to that display of intelligence: well, ya know America is a continent, not a country...only your moronic and obsolete Monroe Doctrine tells you that.

Besides, "latino" means someone descending from Latin people (Lacio) or speaking Latin languages, in a more direct reference to Italy (the cradle of modern civilization) and encompassing also Portugal, Spain and France...

Wake up, stupid, alienated and hypocritical ones! You guys create porn and export it everywhere; but your own girls can't wear G-strings...sad.

Close Name:yakirz Posts: 457 Joined: 22 Nov 2002
Subject: Will the christian

administration in DC get involved again???

Bastards.

Comment on this Article


You cannot edit your comments.   You cannot delete your comments.

Comments are currently closed. Please email the author instead.


Recent Headlines - Updated November 21st

Fri, 7:07 PM
Games - Soccer Sim Championship Manager 2010 Released for Mac
6:47 PM
Games - EA Publishes Original Monopoly for iPhone
6:15 PM
News - Original Apple I on Ebay for $50K, w/Letter from Steve Jobs
6:11 PM
Games - New iPhone Games: Secret of the Lost Cavern Ep 1, New DJ Nights, More
5:47 PM
Games - Star Trek D-A-C Game Headed to the Mac Next Month
4:57 PM
Product News - TidBITS Releases “Take Control of Syncing Data in Snow Leopard”
4:26 PM
John Martellaro's Blog - Particle Debris (week ending 11/20) Stationery Pads Go Poof
2:59 PM
Free on iTunes - Musée du Louvre, Art Lite, SketchBook Mobile X and More.
1:50 PM
Deal Brothers - Acer P215H bmid 21.5” Widescreen LCD Monitor:  $139.99
11:24 AM
TMO Appearances - Jeff Gamet Shares More Holiday Gift Ideas on MacJury
10:43 AM
Product News - Cocktail 4.5 for Leopard Adds QuickLook Cache Clearing
10:06 AM
News - Hack Enables Mac OS X 10.6.2 on Netbooks

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

  • __________
  • Buy Stuff, Support TMO!
  • Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
  • Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
  • TMO on Twitter!