Apple have bowed under pressure from French social activists, removing an application entitled ‘Jew Or Not Jew' from their online store. This application would allow a user to find out if a politician or celebrity was Jewish.
While many people were taking the applications in the lighthearted manner it was intended, Jewish Groups had been urging Apple to remove the application from their store. French Laws actually ban the disclosure of a persons religious without their consent. An anti racism group called SOS Racisme also were involved in complaints towards Apple, regarding the availability of the application on their store.
Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr told WSJ “This app violates local law and is no longer available on the app store in France.”
The iPhone application was available since the start of August this year and is still available outside France. It was developed by software engineer Johann Levy, who says he is a Jew and wasn't intending the tool to be seen as a ‘racist' attack on Jews. It was a recreational tool to find out the background of famous people, such as pop stars or politicians.
He said in a telephone interview to the WSJ “I often ask myself whether this or that celebrity is Jewish or not, I believe that it's a question that many Jews ask themselves too.”
Kitguru says: Are people overreacting or is it a dangerous in the wrong hands?
I suppose in the wrong hands this might be dangerous. Although I dont think many people target jews anymore. or I could be wrong!