Hasta La Gadget!

People have gotten a bit jumpy when it comes to Apple’s censorship policies–and understandably so. The company has been notoriously dictatorial when it comes to what content can and cannot exist on the device, having banned apps from iTunes, based on the inclusion of words like “boobs” and “booty.”

So when word got out that the US Patent and Trademark Office has granted the company a patent for “text-based communication control for personal communication device[s],” people predictably freaked out a bit. After all, the ability for the company to control user text messages sets a pretty scary precedent, right?

After all, if Apple is so keen to blog questionable words in the context of the App Store, it seems logical that the company would also attempt exercise such control over, you know, sexting and stuff.

No so fast. The patent is actually decidedly less big brothery. It’s actually has more to do with optional parental control. Here’s a bit from the filing,

The parental control application evaluates whether or not the communication contains approved text based on, for example, objective ratings criteria or a user’s age or grade level, and, if unauthorized, prevents such text from being included in the text-based communication.

So carrying on sexting each other, America. It’s your constitutional right! (Unless, of course, your parents aren’t into it.)