Chinese Siri users will no longer be able to find prostitutes via Apple's virtual assistant following a reported "uproar" among some iOS device users. Apple has now blocked Siri queries looking for "hookers" or "escorts," a customer service rep confirmed to Chinese newspaper Xinhua. The list of banned queries in China also includes things like where to buy firearms.
"Responding to reports from our users, we have blocked information related with 'escorts,'" an Apple customer service rep (surnamed "Lin") told Xinhua this week, as reported by the Asian News International.
This was apparently in response to complaints from owners of the iPhone 5, 4S, and third-generation iPad in China (though we're left wondering why they're asking Siri for escorts if they don't want to know where to find them). But worry not, US-based Siri users—based on our own testing, Siri is still reporting back with real escort services on this side of the pond. When I asked Siri about hookers here in Chicago, it replied with a service name, along with a map.
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