Apple Launches Feature That Can Scan Sensitive Content On Children's Phones In The UK

Apple just launched a dedicated Communications Security feature for Messages in the UK (photo: doc. apple)

JAKARTA - Apple has just launched a special Communication Security feature for Messages in the UK, four months after launching in the United States (US). This tool comes amid concerns of parents over the use of mobile phones in their children.

The feature, which parents can opt-in or not, will scan images sent and received by children in Messages for inappropriate or nude content and are automatically blurred.

The child will also be warned that the photo may contain sensitive content and be directed to a resource from a child safety group.

If nudity is found in a photo sent by a child, similar protections will be applied, and the child is encouraged not to send the image and will be given the option to Message an Adult.

The company says all scans are performed on the device, meaning the images are analyzed by the iPhone itself, and Apple never looks at the analyzed photos or the results of the analysis.

"Messaging analyzes image attachments and determines whether a photo contains nudity, while maintaining end-to-end message encryption," Apple said in a statement, cited from The Guardian, Thursday, April 21.

“This feature is designed so that no indication of nudity detection ever leaves the device. Apple doesn't get access to messages, and no notifications are sent to parents or anyone else."

The Communication Security feature, which is turned off by default, can be enabled by parents in Screen Time settings, and is available for all devices running iOS 15.2 or later, iPadOS 15.2 or later, or macOS Monterey 12.1 or later.

The Cupertino, US-based tech giant is also introducing a suite of features when content related to child exploitation is searched in Spotlight, Siri, or Safari.

Along with the Communications Security feature, Apple also announced a controversial plan to scan iPhones for images of child abuse to report to the police, unfortunately, that intention has been postponed indefinitely.