Apple's Predictive Text Filters 'Dictator Trump,' 'Sleepy Joe,' and Political Phrases
· Technology · Economic Times, Reuters
Apple's iOS keyboard uses an undisclosed multilingual "gray list" of tens of thousands of words and phrases that it will not autocomplete or allow for swipe-typing, according to independent researcher Derik Kauffman. This list includes politically charged phrases such as "dictator Trump," "sleepy Joe," "right wing conspiracy," "Tibetan independence," and "United Ireland." In Hindi, the list prevents swipe-typing "Modi braggart" and "Rahul is Pappu," which are critical references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. Apple stated that its keyboard aims to avoid inappropriate or offensive suggestions, but users can still type any words or phrases they choose.
Why it matters
Apple's selective filtering of political phrases in its predictive text could subtly influence how hundreds of millions of iPhone users communicate globally. This practice raises questions about content moderation and potential biases in widely used digital communication tools.
Read the original report — Economic Times
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