Apple Is Censoring The Word 'Jailbreak' In ITunes

Apple isn't a fan of users jailbreaking its devices, and the company doesn't seem to be a fan of the word "jailbreak," either.

The word "jailbreak" apparently has been modified to "j*******k" in several places around the iTunes store. According to tech site Shoutpedia, popular iOS hacker @planetbeing first noticed the oddity. Self-proclaimed iPhone hacker @MuscleNerd tweeted @planetbeing's findings on Thursday:

Whoa...when did Apple start blocking the word "jailbreak" in iTunes listings? twitpic.com/9lx7x3 (@planetbeing just noticed this)

— MuscleNerd (@MuscleNerd) May 17, 2012

Shoutpedia also notes that the filter is affecting all iTunes store categories; however, it appears it only applies to those in the U.S. Below is one of the first instances discovered:

[Note: The "deluxe edition" of the song "Jailbreak" by Thin Lizzy is censored on the U.S. iTunes store, but not on the European one.]

LOOK:

In addition, it does indeed seem that the block on the word has reached both iPhone and iPad apps, too.

LOOK:

Even iBooks have been affected. WebProNews pointed out the tweet of @86intruder, who responded to @MuscleNerd with a picture to prove it:

@MuscleNerd @planetbeing iBooks too. twitter.com/86intruder/sta…

— 86intruder (@86intruder) May 17, 2012

As MacRumors points out, Apple discourages users from jailbreaking their iDevices, a process that removes restrictions on the gadget and allows the downloading of apps and other features that aren't Apple-approved and aren't available in the App Store.

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Comments

[Rhek]

05:56 PM on 05/18/2012

lol

[Desolati0n]

10:28 AM on 05/18/2012

They must have fixed it because it no longer looks like that.

[FredG]

08:38 AM on 05/18/2012

Jailbreaking allows you to buy apps that haven't been reviewed by Apple. Among other things this means they haven't been checked for malevolent software, compatibility, and minimum standards of usability. It violates Apple's terms of use for their devices. While I don't agree with any ham-handed global replacement of the word "jailbreak", I do support Apple's right to censor anything that actually encourages breaking their terms of use. If you don't like it, nobody is twisting your arm to buy the device.

[Fiberspar]

11:55 AM on 05/19/2012

Nonsense. You bought it, it's a computing device, you can do whatever you want with it.

When I had one, I jailbroke it even though I had no real need to do so.

[FredG]

11:50 AM on 05/21/2012

Which is utterly fine. Just don't expect Apple to support your efforts to use a scalpel as a screw driver. You've chosen to leave the ecosystem and you get whatever you get.

[Radarman]

10:12 PM on 05/17/2012

We're sorry, but "Do A******ds Dream of Electric Sheep" is not available on iBooks at this time.

[Mark Burton]

08:10 PM on 05/17/2012

Not surprising!

[kevwells]

06:28 PM on 05/17/2012

Apple is in danger of losing its way. And soon. Censoring the word jailbreak? Please. The folks who run iTunes are so incredibly full of themselves that this comes as no surprise but this kind of reprehensible behavior is....So So So....off-brand. Tim Cook should be all over this but sadly, probably wont even be aware of it.

When genius leads to arrogance (which is mostly what you have left) you are either very stupid or very out of it.
Think RIM.

[Ppenguinator]

01:40 PM on 05/18/2012

They stopped thinking differently a long time ago. A lot of people still haven't realised.

[Stanley Seay]

06:05 PM on 05/17/2012

But...but...but...

Apple is just so trendy and cool if I blindly follow whatever they tell me I'll be trendy and cool too!

[Old Norm]

04:39 PM on 05/17/2012

It is so ironic. Apple started off with the classic anti 1984esque commercial. Now they have become Big Brother.

[SoulOfWit]

06:15 PM on 05/17/2012

How so? Censoring the word jailbreak is silly, but hardly totalitarian. It reminds me of editors doing a global edit and changing all instances of the word "black" to "African American". The resulting article had sentences like "The African American car rolled slowly around the corner." It's ridiculous, but hardly worth noting.

[Old Norm]

09:30 PM on 05/17/2012

Big Brother as in knowing what's best for you.

[justwunderbar]

10:16 AM on 05/19/2012

Being a sheep isn't fun.

[StinkyPete0279]

03:47 PM on 05/17/2012

Gotta protect that vendor lock-in at all costs

[Reality always bites]

03:35 PM on 05/17/2012

OK I admit I use my phone to make calls and the occasional text.
From my limited research 'Jailbreaking' a hand held device from the modern era allows you to change the look, change wallpaper (I get a decorator to do that) and other subtle things to make your device individual.
Only as 'individual' as the apps allow apparently.
Does it get you anything for free, reduce the cost of calls or even leave you time to actually use the thing as intended instead of messing about with it?
Or is just another example of anarchy?

[apans]

04:39 PM on 05/17/2012

Jeopardizes the stability of the phone and thus the quality/perception of their product.

[Reality always bites]

04:53 PM on 05/17/2012

Not good then and no freebies. (Are you from Apple?) or was I correct in my thinking?

[Radarman]

10:15 PM on 05/17/2012

30 Second Fast Forward is one good reason.

[Reality always bites]

01:18 PM on 05/18/2012

Half a minute- Is that progress?
I honestly have no idea why you would need to fast forward a phone call!

[Guardian Weasel]

02:16 PM on 05/17/2012

They must have confused it with another word that begins with J-A-I-L-B.

[fds]

02:10 PM on 05/17/2012

I hate censorship. Fùckin' thing sucks!

[RevSpaminator]

02:03 PM on 05/17/2012

Apple will make technology safe for you and control your entire experience. You have no need to be exposed to any idea unless it is something Apple wants you to know.

Ironic from a company founded by blue-box phreaks.

[Theb5mcnab]

02:03 PM on 05/17/2012

apple can blow deez nutz

[acarrillo0989]

02:03 PM on 05/17/2012

If I were the makers of an app that had the term 'jailbreak' in it, I would be excited. Apple just gave them free publicity.

I'm not sure what Apple is trying to accomplish here. Everyone knows what jailbreaking is and how it's done via Youtube.