Apple has pulled another application from its App Store, adding to the controversy surrounding the company’s approval process. The most recent application to be pulled from the App Store shelves is called “Me So Holy” and allows iPod and iPod touch users to overlay their own likeness on pictures of Jesus Christ and other religious figures.
Previously, Apple sparked outrage by approving the now infamous Baby Shaker application. As the name suggests, that application allowed users to shake a picture of a baby until it stopped crying. Apple pulled the application and made a public apology for approval of Baby Shaker, saying it was a mistake.
Much of the controversy over Apple’s approval process surrounds the criteria itself, which many consider rather obtuse:
3.3.12: Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.), or other content or materials that in Apple’s reasonable judgment may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users.
To many, Apple’s “reasonable judgment” appears contradictory at times. For instance, Apple recently rejected a South Park application for content that was “potentially offensive,” while continuing to sell downloads of South Park episodes on its iTunes store.