Apple postpones the introduction of software that makes it possible to search iPhones for child pornography. The company says it needs more time to improve the system before it becomes operational.
“Following feedback from customers, advocacy groups and researchers, among others, we have decided to take more time in the coming months to further improve this important child protection system,” the company said.
The system is part of the iOS 15 operating system, which should be available this fall. The scan function is only activated in the US, but in principle runs on all devices on which the new operating system is installed. The scanning therefore takes place on the device itself, without the user being aware of it.
Images identified as suspicious by the system are then reviewed by an Apple moderator. If it also finds that child pornography is involved, the material will be forwarded to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Incidentally, the function only becomes active when the user enables iCloud backup.
Server controlled by Chinese government
Apple’s decision was widely criticized. Around 90 organizations worldwide have called on the tech giant to backtrack on its intention to search users’ photos. Many security and privacy experts are skeptical.
They fear that the technology could be used at a later stage to check more data from Apple users. Authoritarian regimes could then, for example, use the system to track down people with dissident views, is the fear.
“We will not respond to a government’s request to expand this feature,” the company wrote in response to such criticism. “Apple has previously faced demands from governments to make changes that compromise user privacy, and has consistently rejected those demands. We will continue to do so in the future.”
Yet Apple has already done so, writes tech website The Verge, among others. Four years ago moved all cloud files from Chinese users to a server under the control of the Chinese government. And during the student protests in Hong Kong, Apple removed the app HKmap.live from the app store. It was used by the protest movement to keep an eye on the police.
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