Adult iPhone App Gets Apple Nod, Then Taken Down

CYBERSPACE — Wallpaper Universe didn’t make it very long as an iPhone application. The software, which allows users to post photos of nude women as wallpaper, didn’t make it past the weekend after making its debut.

Apple Inc. may have been purposely trying to test the market for such content, Harvey Kaplan, executive vice president of wireless development at BustBox Media Inc., told XBIZ.

“Somebody who was in the approval department thought the content was passable,” Kaplan said. “This looks like a corporate decision. Someone blew the whistle on this and that is why it got pulled down.”

A write-up posted on website ReadWriteWeb.com makes an argument that Apple’s review process may be flawed. The approval and then quick removal of Wallpaper Universe exposes a “giant gaping hole” in Apple's review process.

The article raises the question of whether Apple “intends to keep users safe from illegal and malicious applications, those that are bandwidth hogs, and those that raise privacy concerns.”

Above all, however, Apple apparently is hesitant about adult content on its sought-after smartphone.

“Apple won’t reveal what goes on behind the scenes with their approval process, a process that often takes weeks or months,” according to the article. “But this incident almost makes you wonder if there is one blurry-eyed guy sitting at a keyboard, clicking ‘approve, approve, reject’ all day as hundreds of applications arrive for approval.”

Related:  

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

House Committee to Weigh Online Safety Bill With Federal AV Requirement

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce will meet Thursday to consider and potentially amend the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, which includes provisions to make age verification by adult websites federal law.

SWR Data Publishes 'Creator Income' Report

Adult industry market research firm SWR Data has published a report on creator incomes.

Pineapple Support to Host 'Neurodivergent Performers' Support Group

Pineapple Support is hosting a free online support group for neurodivergent performers.

'Legal Impact' Webinar Unpacks North Carolina's New Consent Law

Industry attorney Corey D. Silverstein on Thursday held a webinar focused on North Carolina’s HB 805, a new law that has significantly altered performer consent requirements in the state.

FSC Launches Privacy-First Age Verification Solution for Members

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) announced today that it has granted members exclusive access to the PrivateAV age verification solution.

Brazil: New AV Requirements Set to Take Effect March 17

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva this week gave final approval to new regulations requiring adult websites to age-verify users located in Brazil starting March 17.

FSC Recommends Platforms Integrate StopNCII.org Tool

In a blog post, Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has recommended that platforms integrate the StopNCII.org tool to prevent the sharing of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII).

Utah 'Porn Tax' Bill With VPN Provisions Passes State Senate

The Utah state Senate has passed a bill that would impose a 2% tax on the revenues of adult websites doing business in that state, and make sites liable if Utah minors use VPNs to circumvent geolocation.

Fast-Tracked Arizona Bill Includes Consent 'Catch-22' for Adult Sites

A bill advancing rapidly through the Arizona state legislature would impose new requirements for adult content uploaded online, including seemingly contradictory provisions that could effectively make it impossible for adult sites to operate in the state.

Show More