Apple Removes Deeply Offensive iPhone Game "Baby Shaker" from App Store; Issues an Apology for Approving it

We have seen quite a few iPhone apps removed or banned from the App Store by Apple for reasons such as copyright issues, duplicating functionality, offering tethering functionality, based on limited utility, content or materials found objectionable, just a ridiculous app etc.

This time Apple has removed a controversial iPhone game called "Baby Shaker" that generated outrage as the animation in the game suggested that a player was silencing the baby by murdering it as a proper shake caused two large red Xs to appear on the baby's eyes.

Apple has also issued an apology for approving the iPhone game.

"Baby Shaker" was developed by Sikalsoft. The iPhone game lets a player silence a virtual crying infant by shaking the device.

However, the animation in the iPhone game suggested that a player was silencing the baby by murdering it as a proper shake (of the iPhone) caused two large red Xs to appear on the baby's eyes.

The iPhone game was also controversial as shaking a real-life baby can result in serious injury to both the body and brain, a condition known as Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Patrick Donohue, founder of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, a New York-based group that educates the community on pediatric brain injuries even wrote this in a letter to Steve Jobs:

"As the father of a three-year-old who was shaken by her baby nurse when she was only five days old, breaking three ribs, both collarbones and causing a severe brain injury, words cannot describe my reaction"

The iPhone app was approved by Apple on Monday and was removed on Wednesday in response to the widespread outrage from parents due to the offensive nature of the game (actually offensive is an understatement).

You can see the demo video of the iPhone game below:

Apple has also issued an apology for their mistake in approving the iPhone game. Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris said that the game shouldn't have been approved as it was "deeply offensive".

Though the approval of the iPhone game was a mistake, it again highlights the problems in the approval process. Apple has been fairly quick in reacting to the outrage by removing the iPhone game and also coming out with an apology but it's important that Apple takes steps to ensure that such a mistake doesn't happen again.

As always, please let us know what you think in the comments section below.

[via Wired]