Apple and Alphabet have raised concerns with Amazon after exposing sexually explicit content in the Kindle app, which children can access. Amazon was called out to strengthen its content moderation to provide a safe space for children on the platform.
Sexually Explicit Content on Kindle
Amazon is under fire by tech companies Apple and Alphabet for exposing sexually explicit content on the Kindle app, which could be accessed by children on the platform. Gizmodo reported that the eBook platform sells adult-oriented content that includes photographs on the book cover that are not suitable for children.
All users of Kindle can access and view online photographs of naked women with titles like "75 Hot Fully Nude Photos of a Young Blonde" and "Real Etorica: Amateur Naked Girls - Vol.4." Some of these covers show women and men engaging in sexual contact.
Both companies have the ability to remove an application from their app store for rules violations or other reasons. Prior to this, Apple and Alphabet have already policed their app stores and disallowed adult materials by removing applications that displayed explicit content or advertisements.
After finding out this content, parents raised concerns to Reuters, who had recently purchased Kindle Unlimited for their pre-teen children to use it for age-appropriate books that were not available on Amazon's separate Amazon Kids+ subscription service.
The parents stated that their pre-teen sons downloaded the explicit material via Amazon's Kindle Unlimited e-Book subscription service and viewed the content on their Kindle app on iPhone. Aside from these, pornography content is also available through the online store, with viewable versions on the app.
In their defense, the parents argued that they were initially attracted to the $10 monthly subscription as they were offered access to age-appropriate book series that would be much more expensive to purchase on Amazon's Kids+ subscription service. Some of it was also not available in this version.
Amazon's Response
As per Alphabet, Google Play Store does not allow applications that contain or promote sexual content, hence why they contacted the developer regarding this issue. However, both Apple and Alphabet did not disclose how Amazon Kindle broke their policies despite saying that their concern revolves around policy violations.
Amazon released a statement and said that they are taking this seriously as they are fully committed to providing a safe shopping and reading experience for their customers, especially children. "We are reviewing all of the available information and are taking action based on our findings," the statement added.
In a response to this, MacRumors reported that Apple's shared concerns with Google have also relied upon the developer as they work with them to ensure their app is safe and compliant with their implemented guidelines.
