Apple has a secret list of banned autocomplete phrases including ‘dictator Trump’ and ‘covid is a hoax’

Apple's keyboard now actively filters your word suggestions, proactively hiding political and sensitive terms without user consent.

A security researcher named Derik Kauffman has uncovered a secret list of over 100,000 words and phrases that Apple's iOS keyboard blocks from autocomplete and swipe-typing suggestions across multiple languages. While these terms can still be typed out character by character, they will not appear as predictive text and may be automatically altered by the keyboard. The list, which Kauffman discovered by "deep in the bowels" of iOS, includes offensive language, slurs, and terms related to sex and drugs, but also political phrases such as "dictator Trump," "covid is a hoax," and "illegal immigrant," alongside more benign phrases like "Santa isn't real." Apple stated that its keyboard aims to prevent offensive suggestions but acknowledged users can still input their desired text or override predictions. Kauffman's findings were corroborated by another researcher, and he made the complete list publicly available.

The extensive blocklist indicates Apple's significant investment in controlling the user-generated text experience, moving beyond simple offensive word filtering to include politically charged and nuanced phrases. This practice raises questions about censorship and the extent to which platform providers should curate user input, even if presented as user-friendly features.

Kauffman's ability to extract this hidden list suggests potential vulnerabilities in how such data is stored and managed within iOS, opening avenues for further scrutiny of Apple's internal processes. The revelation forces a re-evaluation of the trust placed in device manufacturers to provide neutral communication tools, especially as AI integration deepens across consumer technology.