censorship

How Many Terrorists Must You Inspire Before YouTube Bans You?

Ryan Tate · 11/03/10 05:40PM

It's admirable that Google is so reluctant to censor content on YouTube. But now that the company has yanked videos from an extreme American-born Muslim cleric currently in hiding, it's worth asking why the company finally caved to critics.

The 'Banned' Cover for Kanye West's New Album

Max Read · 10/17/10 08:00PM

The artwork for rapper Kanye West's new album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, has been banned! That is, according to Kanye, who Tweeted the cover earlier this evening. Want to see it? There are boobs!

Steve Jobs Releases His 10 Commandments

Ryan Tate · 09/09/10 01:41PM

Steve Jobs released rules, apparently in his own words, outlining creative correctness in Apple's App Store. The Apple CEO's "guidelines" are arbitrary, prudish and almost comically despotic. But at least now they're written down and exposed to public scrutiny.

Why Facebook Is Tripping With Its Pot Ban

Ryan Tate · 08/24/10 01:52PM

Facebook abruptly removed ads for pot legalization group Just Say Now, saying the ads' marijuana leaves might encourage Facebook members to try toking. A social network founded on college campuses can't really think its users are strangers to pot.

Why Don't Black People Love Fox News?

Hamilton Nolan · 07/27/10 12:31PM

In your head-scratching Tuesday media column: African-Americans simply can't appreciate Bill O'Reilly, more evidence of Tribune Co. hopelessness, GQ censors itself in China, and WSJ. magazine names a new editor.

Mississippi Radio Finds 'Fresh Air' Inappropriate

Hamilton Nolan · 07/15/10 11:53AM

Mississippi has modernized itself quite a bit lately. No longer are African-Americans required by law to wear chains, nor are women required to remain indoors. But Terry Gross's NPR show? Smut like that is still not allowed.

Apple's Hush Attempt Backfires

Ryan Tate · 07/13/10 07:56PM

Apple was busted today for deleting multiple customer forum posts about a negative Consumer Reports review of its new iPhone. Maybe an Apple.com moderator simply went rogue, but now the company will have to deal with the PR fallout.

Apple's Gay Culture Bans Don't Make it 'Moral' or 'Pure'

Ryan Tate · 06/14/10 03:08PM

Apple has proclaimed an iPad "revolution," and has already picked the winners and losers. Banned in its cultural shift are literary illustrations of gay couples making, and of Ulysses. Allowed are heterosexual couples making out and swimsuit editions.