A researcher has uncovered more than 100,000 words and phrases in multiple languages that Apple blocks from autocomplete and swipe-typing features in iOS, as reported by Reuters. Security researcher Derik Kauffman explained that while users can still type these restricted words manually letter by letter, they will not appear as predictive text suggestions, and the iOS keyboard may actively alter them during swipe-typing, such as changing “left wing conspiracy” to “left wrong conspiracy.”
Uncovering the Hidden iOS Blocklist
Kauffman published the complete directory online, detailing individual blocked lists across various languages. To locate the hidden files deep within iOS, Kauffman utilized artificial intelligence tools, specifically OpenAI’s Codex and Anthropic’s Claude Code, according to Reuters reporting. He explained on his website that the phrase database was stored as a hash table, which he successfully converted back into readable text. Another researcher confirmed the findings to Reuters by independently extracting the exact same dataset.
Political Terms and Inconsistencies Found
While the vast majority of entries consist of profanity, slurs, and terms related to drugs and sex, the collection also features several political phrases. Among the restricted political expressions are “illegal immigrant,” “dictator Trump,” “sleepy Joe,” “covid was a hoax,” and “left wing conspiracy.” The list additionally includes milder phrases like “Santa isn’t real” and “iMessage isn’t working.” Kauffman also identified structural inconsistencies, noting instances where one specific phrase is blocked while its direct counterpart is allowed, such as restricting “bad girl” while permitting “bad boy.”
Apple stated to Reuters that its keyboard software is engineered to prevent potentially inappropriate or offensive suggestions from appearing to users. The company emphasized that iPhone owners remain free to type whatever they choose and can manually override any predictive text recommendations. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Verge.
