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Fair goers try out the textunes eBook reader app on an Apple iPad at the Leipzig Book Fair on March 15, 2012 on the fairgrounds in Leipzig, eastern Germany. From March 15 to 18, 2012, more than 2000 exhibitors from 44 countries present their products of the publishing and media sector.
Amazon received a warning from Apple and Google over the sexually explicit images on the e-book library of its Kindle app, which is accessible to young ages.
The iPhone maker and Google, which owns Android, stated that they do not allow pornographic content on their app store. Selling explicit content is actually against the policies of the app marketplaces. And as such, both tech behemoths say they are already in touch with the giant online retailer Amazon.
Apple and Google Warn Amazon Over Porn in Kindle App
According to a report by Sky News, parents were alarmed that pornographic content showed up in e-books about dinosaurs and aliens, enabling their children to consume such content. With that, Google and Apple have warned the giant retailer Amazon due to the explicit sexual material.
The two tech firms have reportedly reached out to Amazon over these concerns since this sexually explicit content undermines the policies of their app marketplaces. Apple runs the App Store for iPhone and iPad users, whereas Google has its Android counterpart, the Play Store. Both of which carry the Kindle app. The e-book platform is one of the tops downloaded apps on both app stores.
The iPhone maker disclosed in its recent statement that it is already working hand in hand with its fellow tech giant, Amazon. The Cupertino-based company is currently in talks with online retailers to "ensure their app is compliant with [their] guidelines."
The search giant, Google, has also contacted Amazon, saying it has "been in contact with the developer" of the Kindle app.
Gizmodo reports that finding sexually explicit content in the Kindle app is pretty effortless. Simply searching for "nudity" or "adult pictures" for the e-book platform on Google gave relevant results. Some had pornographic covers with titles like 100% Nude Girls Uncensored." The results also included some AI-generated porn.
It is worth noting that a report from two families with pre-teen sons triggered the warning from Apple and Google. They told Reuters that their children had successfully downloaded some sexual content on the e-book platform after they subscribed to the Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription. It offers millions of wide-ranging titles. However, it lacks parental controls, allowing young minds to access adult content.
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FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 09: A visitor looks at a Samsung Tab with Kindle books at the 2014 Frankfurt Book Fair (Frankfurter Buchmesse) on October 9, 2014 in Frankfurt, Germany. The 2014 fair, which is among the world's largest book fairs, will be open to the public from October 8-12.
Why Is Sexual Content on Kindle?
Gizmodo notes in its report that the Kindle Unlimited subscription contains self-published books. This method allows hundreds of authors to release their books via their Kindle Direct Publishing service. If you are a writer, you may instantly self-publish your works on the platform.
Although Amazon has precautions against pornography, some users seemingly get away with it. The tech giant says that the terms of use for self-publishing on Kindle warn against "offensive or inappropriate" content, including sexually explicit images.
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