Apple has a hidden list of words and phrases that its iOS keyboard won’t suggest through autocomplete or swipe typing, according to researcher Derik Kauffman. This list is not a complete ban, as users can still type any words they want, but it limits suggestions to avoid offensive or politically sensitive content. Apple’s decision on which words to limit could influence communication for millions of iPhone users worldwide.
The list mainly includes vulgar or offensive terms related to drugs, sex, or violence, along with politically charged phrases like “dictator Trump” and “sleepy Joe.” Apple did not comment directly on the size or nature of this list, only stating that users can always type their desired words and that the keyboard is designed to avoid inappropriate suggestions. Other excluded phrases include “right wing conspiracy,” “Tibetan independence,” and “United Ireland.” Different languages also have their own lists; for instance, Hindi users can’t swipe-type “Modi braggart” or “Rahul is Pappu,” while French speakers can’t use “immigration too high,” and Hebrew speakers can’t type “occupied territories.”
Kauffman noted inconsistencies in Apple’s choices, as some phrases like “read smut” can be typed while similar phrases like “read gay smut” cannot. He described this as a light form of censorship, which can significantly impact communication on a large scale.
Kauffman discovered the gray list while swipe-typing and finding certain phrases did not work as expected. Using AI tools, he found a collection of these words within Apple’s operating system, estimating about 100,000 entries, excluding Chinese characters. An independent test validated Kauffman’s findings, confirming that trying to type certain phrases often led to incorrect suggestions.
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The existence of the gray list has drawn attention, with some users sharing their experiences of difficulties with certain phrases on social media. Recently, a Norwegian administrator also uncovered some words on the gray list, such as “al-Qaeda” and “Hooters.”
Apple, like other tech companies, has faced criticism for its predictive technologies. Earlier, it received attention when users reported a bug causing the word “Trump” to appear when dictating “racist.” David Greene from the Electronic Frontier Foundation expressed concern about the hidden nature of Apple’s list, suggesting users should be informed and have the option to customize such features. Greene emphasized the importance of transparency for users regarding this type of filtering.
With information from Reuters
