Apple Halts Rollout of New Surveillance Software in Phones After Privacy Backlash

Apple Surveillance Software Privacy Overview:

• Who: Apple has dropped plans to install software designed to detect sexually explicit material on children’s phones after a global backlash over privacy concerns
• Why: Civil rights groups said the software could be used to surveil other users and that the company could face pressure from governments around the world to use the technology to scan images for the governments’ own search benefits
• Where: The software would have been installed on devices with iOS 15 all around the world

Apple has announced it will pause its testing and rollout of a new surveillance tool designed to alert parents to sexually explicit material in their children’s phones after a global outcry over privacy concerns and how the technology might be used. 

Apple made the announcement Friday in a statement, CNN reported.

“Last month we announced plans for features intended to help protect children from predators who use communication tools to recruit and exploit them, and limit the spread of Child Sexual Abuse Material,” the company said. 

“Based on feedback from customers, advocacy groups, researchers and others, we have decided to take additional time over the coming months to collect input and make improvements before releasing these critically important child safety features.”

The move comes after more than 90 civil rights organizations worldwide signed a letter to Apple, asking the tech giant to drop its plans to install the new surveillance software in its devices. 

The software was meant to be rolled out this year with an update to iOS 15. The surveillance technology would work by creating paired child and parent accounts, and then scanning the child’s incoming and outgoing messages and photos for sexually explicit material. 

If anything deemed to be sexually explicit was flagged coming in or out of a child’s account, the parent’s account would be notified. 

ACLU Fears the Apple Surveillance Software Could Breach Privacy Laws

However, groups like the American Civil Liberties Union said the unintended effects will be “disastrous consequences for many children.” 

“We support efforts to protect children and stand firmly against the proliferation of child sexual abuse material,” the letter to Apple said. “But the changes that Apple has announced put children and its other users at risk both now and in the future.”

The civil rights groups said the software could be used to surveil other users. There is a fear that the company would face pressure from governments around the world to use the technology to scan images for the governments’ own search benefits. 

The groups also raised concerns about children with abusive parents, saying algorithms supposed to weed out sexually explicit material are “notoriously unreliable” and could threaten a child’s wellbeing, especially if the child is LGBTQ+ and is not able to be safely out with their parents.

Apple told the Washington Post notifications would only apply to children under 13 using accounts with both family sharing and communication safety notifications turned on.

It also said, if governments tried to force it to add non-child sexual abuse images to its scanning capability, it would “refuse such demands.” 

Despite this, Apple has a history of complying with local laws in countries such as China, where it has blocked privacy-protecting apps there and moved its servers inside the country at the government’s request, the Washington Post reported.

Apple has faced allegations of misconduct from workers, consumers, and human rights advocates. As a result, several lawsuits against Apple have been filed following a variety of allegations related to the use of child labor, violation of privacy laws, faulty products, and more.

Click here to learn more about the latest Apple class action lawsuit updates.

What do you think of the pause to this potential software update? Let us know in the comments! 

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