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Apple’s secret list of banned autocomplete phrases include ‘Dictator Trump,’ ‘Sleepy Joe’
A researcher says Apple has a multilingual list of words and phrases that its iPhone keyboard generally avoids suggesting through autocomplete or swipe-typing. The list is not a ban, as users can still type the terms, but the findings raise questions about how predictive keyboards may influence communication by filtering suggestions.
Derik Kauffman estimates the list contains about 100,000 entries and variations, excluding Chinese characters. It includes vulgar and offensive language as well as political phrases such as “Dictator Trump”, “Sleepy Joe”, “United Ireland” and “Tibetan independence”; examples also vary by language. Apple said its keyboard is designed to avoid inappropriate or offensive suggestions and that users can override predictive text, while Reuters testing found several of Kauffman’s examples were difficult to swipe-type or did not appear as suggestions.
In short
- Apple’s keyboard reportedly filters around 100,000 words and phrases.
- Some political terms are among those rarely suggested.
- Users can still type the filtered words themselves.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A predictive keyboard can shape what people write by making some phrases easier to enter than others, even when users can still type them manually. A large, undisclosed filter that includes political expressions may therefore merit scrutiny for consistency and transparency, particularly across languages and viewpoints.
The case against
Autocomplete is a convenience feature, and Apple can reasonably limit suggestions it considers offensive or inappropriate without preventing users from expressing those ideas. The reported list includes vulgar terms as well as political phrases, and its presence alone does not establish a political motive; users can override suggestions, and the examples may not work consistently across devices or languages.