Apple Removes 'Jew or Not Jew' App in France
Under pressure from critics who fear it may stoke anti-Semitism, Apple has removed from its French iTunes App Store a program that tells iPhone or iPad users whether a public personality is Jewish.
"The app violates local law and is no longer available in the app store in France, said Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr. " Called "Juif ou pas Juif?" there, the app sold for 0.79 euro cents, or $1.08.
No Offense Intended
In France, it is illegal to collect or disclose a person's religious affiliation or ethnicity without the person's permission. Strict laws were enacted after World War II, when the Nazis deported and ultimately killed tens of thousands of Jews during their occupation of France.
Among those objecting to the app were CRIF, an umbrella group of Jewish organizations, France's Jewish Student Union and SOS Racisme, a social-justice group that offers support to immigrants and minorities.
The app, developed for the iPhone by Johann Levy and licensed this year by J Soft, remains available in the United States for $1.99, and carries a disclaimer that its goal is Jewish pride, not prejudice: "This app is only intended for fun....It simply shows how through hard work many Jews, often from immigrant families, have managed to achieve recognition."
In an interview with the newspaper Le Parisien, as reported by the Associated Press, Levy said: "I'm not a spokesman for all Jews, but as a Jew myself I know that in our community we often ask whether a such-and-such celebrity is Jewish or not. For me, there's nothing pejorative about saying that someone is Jewish or not. On the contrary, it's about being proud."
But according to The Wall Street Journal, Richard Prasquier, president of CRIF, said: "The fact is that this [app] could be used by others whose intentions are not as good. It is unacceptable and stigmatizes the Jewish people."
The app allows users to search public figures by name, category or movie or allows browsing of random people not widely known to be Jewish or the most popular people searched for through the app.
Levy told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency the app violated no laws because it relied on information already publicly available on the Internet.
Identifying public figures who are "members of the tribe," in commonly used parlance, has long been a fascination of Jews, leading to an October 1988 skit on the "Saturday Night Live" television show featuring a fictional game show, hosted by Tom Hanks, inviting contestants to guess on the Semitism of celebrities such as Penny Marshall (not Jewish). There is also a website, jewornotjew.com, offering information similar to Levy's app.
Extra Caution
But in France, where concerns about rising anti-Semitism have driven many Jews to leave the country, Jewish organizations aren't amused. A 2009 report by the Jewish Community Protection Service found that 832 anti-Semitic incidents were recorded in France in 2009, up 75 percent from the 474 incidents in 2008.
"Generally speaking, an app that draws on conventional wisdom and the hot topics of the day is a good app," said Rabbi Jason Miller, who writes a technology blog for The Jewish Week newspaper in New York. "However, caution must be taken when an app pushes the boundaries of good taste."
While the app in question is clearly not meant to be anti-Semitic, the rabbi said, "in France they are more cautious on matters that could potentially be construed as anti-Semitic or racist because of their history."
In June, Apple pulled another app that offended many Jewish organizations, called Third Intifada, which allowed users to coordinate anti-Israel protests and share articles. Critics, including an Israeli cabinet minister who contacted Apple personally, said the program incited violence against Israel.
