Apple postpones controversial plan to scan iPhones for abusive content

Apple
(Image credit: Apple)

UPDATE: After announcing plans to scan iPhone, iPad and other Apple devices for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) in August, Apple has now announced that it will be delaying the launch. This development comes after Apple recently released an updated paper that seemingly hoped to pacify concerns that this new scanning system could be abused by authoritarian governments. 

Apple has said, "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. 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.”

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Louise Carey

With over a decade of photographic experience, Louise arms Digital Camera World with a wealth of knowledge on photographic technique and know-how – something at which she is so adept that she's delivered workshops for the likes of ITV and Sue Ryder. Louise also brings years of experience as both a web and print journalist, having served as features editor for Practical Photography magazine and contributing photography tutorials and camera analysis to titles including Digital Camera Magazine and  Digital Photographer. Louise currently shoots with the Fujifilm X-T200 and the Nikon D800, capturing self-portraits and still life images, and is DCW's ecommerce editor, meaning that she knows good camera, lens and laptop deals when she sees them.