Apple has an “Asian” problem: parental controls go crazy

Content restrictions in iOS are actually intended to make Apple’s iPhone safer – and above all to protect children and young people from content that is not intended for them. Sometimes, however, Apple’s algorithm goes overboard and leads to restrictions that are not only curious but also urgently need improvement.

iOS content restrictions: Apple’s website filter bugged for years

Parents can use an iPhone or iPad to determine how long their children sit on the digital end devices. You can also choose what content you can see. Restrictions can be set for Siri searches, apps, music, game modes and much more, for example. But Apple’s filter is wrong, especially when it comes to web content: It blocks search queries that include the word “asian”.

What is apparently supposed to protect children and young people from pornographic content (the terms “teen” and “amateur” are also loud t3n.de blocked), at the same time prevents completely neutral search queries that are used to obtain information. The problem only occurs when looking for the terms in English. The German adjective “Asian”, however, is not a problem. You cannot search for “amateur”, which is written identically in both English and German, with the web lock activated.

The innovations of iOS 14 at a glance:

Bug at Apple “known for a long time”

On Twitter, a user had pointed out Apple’s “Asian” problem and made some journalists in the industry aware of it. Steven Shen says he has already reported the bug to Apple through the company’s feedback system. And that “a long time ago”. Nothing has changed since then. How long the problem has been around is unknown.

You can activate the content lock for websites in the iOS settings under Screen time > Restrictions > Content restrictions. There is the option “Restrict adult content” under Web content.