A researcher has uncovered a secret list of over 100,000 words and phrases that Apple's iOS keyboard blocks from predictive text and swipe-typing suggestions, including political phrases such as 'dictator Trump' and 'covid is a hoax,' according to a report by Reuters.
Reuters reported that researcher Derik Kauffman used OpenAI's Codex and Anthropic's Claude Code to help find the blocklist 'deep in the bowels' of iOS. Kauffman says on his website that the phrase list was stored as a hash table. Most of the words and phrases on the list are offensive, slurs, or related to topics like sex and drugs, but it also contains political phrases like 'sleepy Joe,' 'left wing conspiracy,' and 'illegal immigrant,' as well as less controversial phrases such as 'Santa isn't real' and 'iMessage isn't working.' Kauffman found discrepancies: 'bad girl' is blocked while 'bad boy' is not. Another researcher told Reuters they were able to independently obtain the same list.
Users can still type blocked words letter by letter, but the keyboard may automatically alter swipe-typed inputs, for example, changing 'left wing conspiracy' to 'left wrong conspiracy.' Apple told Reuters that its keyboard is designed to avoid potentially inappropriate or offensive suggestions, and that users can still type what they want or override predictive text suggestions. The company did not immediately respond to The Verge's request for comment.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Highlights concerns about corporate censorship and control over user expression on widely used platforms.
- Raises questions about transparency: Apple did not publicly disclose this extensive blocklist.
- Users may unknowingly have their typed input altered or restricted.
Background
Apple's iOS keyboard includes predictive text and swipe-to-type features that suggest words as users type. Companies often implement blocklists to prevent offensive or harmful suggestions, but the scale and secrecy of this list, along with the inclusion of political terms, have sparked debate.
Key Perspectives
Researcher Derik Kauffman: Found over 100,000 blocked words and phrases, with political terms and some apparent gender-based discrepancies. He used AI tools to locate the list.
Apple: Defended the practice as avoiding inappropriate suggestions, emphasizing that users can still type any word or override suggestions.
What to Watch
- Whether Apple will publicly disclose or modify the blocklist in response to the findings.
- Potential regulatory or legal scrutiny over content moderation by technology platforms.
- Further research into blocklists on other platforms and operating systems.
