Tech giant Apple said it is working to fix a bug in its latest iOS software because it has been suggesting a Palestinian flag emoji when some users search for the word “Jerusalem” in the emoji keyboard, US broadcaster CNN said in a report.
The latest @Apple update offers a *Palestinian flag* emoji when you type “Jerusalem” pic.twitter.com/OgvRWh3tPR— Jake Wallis Simons (@JakeWSimons) April 10, 2024
The company told the broadcaster that it is aware of the bug within predictive emoji in the keyboard and said it is working on fixing the bug which will be made available in the next update.
Dear @Apple @AppleSupport @tim_cook I’ve just upgraded my software to version iOS 17.4.1, and now, when I type the capital of Israel , Jerusalem, I’m offered the Palestinian flag emoji. This didn’t occur on my phone immediately before this update.
Below is a… pic.twitter.com/Cw9TDmE6VD
— Rachel Riley MBE (@RachelRileyRR) April 9, 2024
Apple introduced its latest software, iOS 17.4.1, on March 21 but users discovered the bug recently and were upset with it. An iPhone user questioned whether Apple was aware of the error and was the bug intentional in nature.
“Why is it that when you type Jerusalem into your emoji search bar this comes up? A programmer at Apple is being intentionally provocative. Search for any other city in the region and nothing comes up,” journalist Eve Barlow posted on social media site X.
The quirk was also pointed out on social media by British television presenter Rachel Riley, renewing debate over whether Israel or Palestinians have a rightful claim to Jerusalem as their capital.
“When I type the capital of Israel, Jerusalem, I’m offered the Palestinian flag emoji,” Riley wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, calling on Apple to explain.
She pointed out no flag emojis were suggested when an array of other capital cities were typed into iPhone messages.
“Showing double standards with respect to Israel is a form of antisemitism, which is itself a form of racism against Jewish people,” Riley contended in the post.
Apple said the issue was a mistake and that it was not coded into the keyboard intentionally.
A separate report by CNN said that it is possible that Apple’s machine-learning technology determined the suggested emoji after analysing texts from millions of its users but Apple is yet to comment on the cause and has not shared when the next update would become available.
The region and territorial claims surrounding it are complex in nature. In 1967, Israel seized East Jerusalem along with other areas and subsequently incorporated it into Jerusalem, designating the unified city as its capital. However, much of the international community regards East Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian territory. Israel maintains Jerusalem as its indivisible capital. In a reversal of long standing American foreign policy, President Donald Trump’s administration acknowledged Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017. Amidst ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas, suggesting a Palestinian flag emoji for the search term “Jerusalem” exacerbates tensions.
