From PC Mag: Apple is delaying its controversial plan to use iPhones to combat online child pornography amid concerns the same system could be abused for surveillance.
Apple was originally slated to roll out the anti-child sexual abuse material system later this year with iOS 15. Now it wants to spend “the coming months” refining the technology, citing the critical feedback from the public.
"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,” the company said in a statement on Friday.
Apple developed the controversial system to help crack down on online child pornography stored over iCloud accounts. But rather than scan Apple’s own servers for the content, the company has been proposing a different approach that relies on using the consumer’s own iPhone to flag the child porn from being uploaded to iCloud.
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