Apple pulls 500px app over concerns of "child pornography" - CBS News

Apple recently removed the photo-sharing app 500px from its App Store, sparking controversy over the move.

The tech giant claims that it pulled the 500px app because it had received complaints that the app may display illegal content -- specifically, child pornography. 500px is an online photo-sharing community. According to Tech Crunch, its app has been available at the App Store since October 2011.

"The app was removed from the App Store for featuring pornographic images and material, a clear violation of our guidelines," Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr told CNET. "We also received customer complaints about possible child pornography. We've asked the developer to put safeguards in place to prevent pornographic images and material in their app."

However, the app makers argue that it has safe guards in place because although users can search for explicit content, it is not the default setting on the app. According to Tech Crunch, turning off safe search must be made on the 500px website.

Evgeny Tchebotarev, COO of 500px, tells the tech blog The Verge that in his communication with Apple about the app, there was no mention of child pornography.

"We've never ever, since the beginning of the company, received a single complaint about child pornography," Tchebotarev told The Verge. "If something like that ever happened, it would be reported right away to enforcement agencies."

Mashable tech analyst Christina Warren opines that the 500px incident is an example of the inconsistencies of Apple's app reviewing process.

"Apple's app-review process is still occasionally hampered by incongruities and unclear policies," Warren writes.

The 500px app is still not available at the App Store. However, a version for Android devices is still on Google Play.

Apple did not immediately respond to CBSNews.com's request for an updated statement.