Anti-Semitism is still alive and kicking in Europe and especially Poland and France. AND IT IS STILL AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES. Its removal follows a complaint from a French anti-racism group that threatened to sue the iPhone and iPad maker.
The Iphone application “A Jew or a not Jew” was displayed Wednesday Sept.14, 2011 in Paris. A French anti-racism organization has threatened to sue Apple France over an iPhone application that identifies public figures who are Jewish. The application violates France’s strict laws banning listing people according to their religious affiliation.
The app, “Juif ou pas Juif?” in French, was selling for 0.79 euro cents ($1.08) in France until it was cut on Wednesday. SOS Racisme had argued that the app violated France’s strict laws banning the compiling of people’s personal details without their consent.
Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said the app did violate local law, so it was removed from the French App Store. It is still available outside France, however, and currently sells for $1.99 through Apple’s U.S. App Store.
Under the French penal code, stocking personal details including race, sexuality, political leanings or religious affiliation is punishable by five-year prison sentences and fines of up to euro300,000 ($411,870).
Such laws were enacted in the decades following the Holocaust, which saw some 76,000 Jews deported from Nazi-occupied France to concentration camps. Fewer than 3,000 returned alive.
In a statement, SOS Racisme had called on Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple to remove the app from its online store and be more vigilant about the applications it sells.
Developers that offer apps through Apple’s App Store are responsible for making sure their apps are in line with local laws.
Apple has removed numerous apps from the App Store since it launched in mid-2008 for violating myriad restrictions it imposes on developers. In June, it shunned an app called “ThirdIntifada” following complaints that it glorified violence against Israel. Apple said it violated developer guidelines by being offensive to large groups of people.
Jewish parodies, such as Adam Sandler singing the “Hannukkah Song” is one thing. But this goes beyond parody. Does Apple require any standards before accepting and publishing apps? If so, I wonder if a member of the KKK is in charge!
thanks for “listening”
Howard
The Neu Facebook
