Apple Patents Anti-Sexting Service

Posted by Brad Hilderbrand on October 14th, 2010

Folks who use their iPhones to send naughty messages back and forth may be in for a rude awakening as Apple has recently filed an anti-sexting patent. Basically, the new feature would allow users to block "sexts" (text message containing sexual or otherwise explicit content), or any other content which they deem inappropriate. Users could also opt to have texts delivered, but with the explicit content filtered out before it reaches them.

"Systems, devices, and methods are provided for enabling a user to control the content of text-based messages sent to or received from an administered device," reads the patent application. "In some embodiments, a message will be blocked (incoming or outgoing) if the message includes forbidden content. In other embodiments, the objectionable content is removed from the message prior to transmission or as part of the receiving process. The content of such a message is controlled by filtering the message based on defined criteria."

The desire to clean up dirty language in text message falls right in line with Apple's anti-porn stance, but this new patent is nowhere near as Orwellian as some of the company's other policies. From the sound of things this will be an opt-in program, and will be aimed mainly at parents who want to restrict behavior of youngsters and teens who may be prone to sending flirtatious messages. In this case Big Brother Jobs isn't looking directly over your shoulder, but rather peering at you from across the way using binoculars and a series of mirrors.

[ via TiPb ]