Serial entrepreneur Mark Cuban on Thursday called on Apple to banish Twitter -- ironically through Twitter itself -- from its iOS App Store for violating the company's app review policies, specifically those concerning objectionable user generated content.
In a series of tweets Cuban questioned why Apple allows Twitter to remain on the App Store given certain users of the microblogging service post "objectionable" material in violation of Apple's App Store Review Guidelines. Cuban did not offer examples of said content, but noted Apple has in the past threatened, or in some cases pulled, apps for non-compliance.
"Apple has no problem threatening other apps with removal as well. Why not Twitter?" Cuban said, later tweeting, "[T]he real issue is what [A]pple thinks is right or wrong and do they apply it equally to all apps?"
A screenshot of Apple's App Store Review Guidelines attached to the first tweet (apparently taken on a Galaxy Note Edge) highlighted sections 14 and 15 covering personal attacks and violence, respectively. Also germane to Cuban's argument, but not shown in the image, is section 16 stipulations regarding objectionable content, which states, "Apps that present excessively objectionable or crude content will be rejected."
Cuban suggested Apple "remove twitter from the app store for a couple days and they will solve any and all objectionable UGC content issues immediately." He also said Twitter could act as its own watchdog by filtering posts prior to publication, or monitor images like Facebook and Instagram. Early Twitter investor Chris Sacca responded, saying such policies are un-American and adding that Twitter's own policies are stricter than Apple's.
While a rarity, Apple has been known to yank apps from circulation if deemed unsavory. For example, after a racially-motivated shooting in the U.S. earlier this year, the company removed a number of games that portrayed the Confederate battle flag in an "offensive and mean-spirited" way. Some titles were later reinstated, including American Civil War simulator Ultimate General: Gettysburg.
Cuban posted a follow-up tweet on Friday, saying, "People missed my point yesterday. The point is that Apple IS A CENSOR for their apps. I'm curious why they have chosen not to censor twitter."