> Tumblr still remains heavily moderated and heavily censored. Why? Because Apple kept kicking Tumblr out of the App Store on the basis that it contained sexual material, and without Apple users, Tumblr was dead in the water<p>> Apple claims this is merely a matter of "editorial standards," no different from a bookstore deciding not to shelve pornography. The difference is that in this case, Apple can block you from patronizing another bookstore, by forcing you to forfeit the $1,000 you spent on your device and potentially many thousands more in media and data and other switching costs.<p>The question at the heart of this issue is simple; do we own our devices, or not?<p>When I pay $1,400 for a computer, do I own it? If yes, then why does Apple get to decide what I get to watch or not?<p>And why does Apple prevent me from deciding what speech I get to engage with my device or not?<p>The app store is, at its heart, an enabler of totalitarianism. The first link of the chain is forged from the freedom to own your computer for marginal profits, but the rest are forged from your human rights.<p>Do you want Hong Kong to be a democracy? Too bad. Apple removed the application protestors were using to protect themselves from a totalitarian police state, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/09/technology/apple-hong-kong-app.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/09/technology/apple-hong-kon...</a><p><a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/10/10/768841864/after-china-objects-apple-removes-app-used-by-hong-kong-protesters" rel="nofollow">https://www.npr.org/2019/10/10/768841864/after-china-objects...</a><p>Oh are you gay or queer? Too bad. Apple removes apps made for and by LGBTQ+ people in 78% of countries. Everything from niche forums to dating apps. <a href="https://www.fightforthefuture.org/news/2021-06-14-apple-is-enabling-censorship-of-lgbtq-apps-in-152/" rel="nofollow">https://www.fightforthefuture.org/news/2021-06-14-apple-is-e...</a><p>Do we own our devices, or do we not?