Report finds Apple keyboard restricts suggestions for sensitive phrases

Researcher Derik Kauffman says Apple’s iOS keyboard contains a multilingual list that limits autocomplete and swipe-typing suggestions for many words and phrases, including some politically charged ones. Apple said users can still type their chosen words and described the keyboard’s aim as avoiding inappropriate or offensive suggestions.

• Kauffman estimates the list contains about 100,000 words and phrase variations, excluding Chinese characters; Apple did not confirm its size or composition.· 1 source
• The list affects whether terms are suggested or can be entered through swipe-typing; it does not prevent users from typing them directly. [3a27b43e-a46b-4ff6-be07-703b3bbdf122· 1 source
• Examples Kauffman identified include “dictator Trump,” “sleepy Joe,” “Tibetan independence” and “United Ireland”; he said the list also varies across languages.· 1 source
• Reuters tested a subset of the phrases and found they were difficult to swipe-type or were not suggested by autocomplete.· 1 source
• Apple said users can type specific words and override predictive-text suggestions; a digital civil-liberties lawyer called for user awareness and customization.· 1 source