Apple iOS Uses Secret Gray List to Restrict Autocomplete
Apple maintains an undisclosed list of 100,000 words and phrases that are restricted from iOS autocomplete and swipe-typing features.
Independent researcher Derik Kauffman discovered an undisclosed multilingual gray list of approximately 100,000 words and phrases within Apple's iOS. The list restricts specific terms from autocomplete and swipe-typing features, preventing the keyboard from suggesting words deemed vulgar, offensive, or politically charged. Examples include phrases such as Tibetan independence, United Ireland, Sleepy Joe, and Dictator Trump, along with political terms in Hebrew, French, and Hindi.
Matt Suiche of Tolmo independently verified the existence of the list. Apple stated that its keyboard is designed to avoid inappropriate or offensive suggestions, noting that users can always override predictive text suggestions to type specific words.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has called for greater transparency and user customization regarding these restrictions. Senior counsel David Greene argued that the existence of such a list should not be secret and that users should have the ability to customize these settings.
