Apple has recently been criticized for what it calls a “bug” in its predictive text, where some users who type “Jerusalem” on their device are prompted to use a Palestinian flag emoji.
The predictive text often attempts to complete your sentences, either using words that might make sense or emojis that can replace the word altogether.
This particular issue was first noticed by Rachel Riley, a British television presenter, who quickly took to X to criticize Apple, saying it started happening after she updated her iPhone to the latest version of iOS, 17.4.1.
“[N]ow, 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,” Riley wrote.
This reporter was also able to confirm the issue was present on his iPhone, which is also up to date with the current version of Apple’s iOS.
However, the “bug” is not occurring on all iPhones.
Riley said in her post that there were other cities she typed that didn’t prompt any country flag, “let alone the wrong one.”
Apple shared with AFP that it is aware of the issue and is fixing the flaw, which was unintentionally put in the most recent software update.
Rile blasted Apple for the issue, saying that it was “antisemitism.”
“Showing double standards with respect to Israel is a form of antisemitism, which is itself a form of racism against Jewish people,” Riley wrote on X. “Please explain whether this is an intentional act by your company, or whether you have no control over rogue programmers. Sincerely, a Jewish woman concerned about the global rise in antisemitism.”