Apple’s controversial on-device child abuse scanner has been delayed, according to reports. The device, which was set to be released in early 2018, is said to have been scrapped in favor of a more traditional child safety scanner. The scanner would have allowed parents to scan children’s faces and bodies for signs of abuse. It was met with criticism from privacy advocates who argued that the technology could be used to surveil children. Apple has not released a statement confirming or denying the reports. ..
There’s been a lot of talk about Apple’s controversial on-device CSAM scanner. It appears the company has heard some of the issues, as it has decided to delay the rollout until it can make more improvements.
Apple’s CSAM Scanning Technology
Apple first announced its child sexual abuse scanning last month, and it was met with some resistance. Scanning images when they’re uploaded to the cloud is nothing new, but Apple said it intended to hash scan images on the user’s device, which some people felt was an invasion of privacy.
In a statement on Apple.com, the company has revealed its decision to delay the scanning technology until it can make more improvements:
Apple says its CSAM scanning tech is actually better for users than scanning once they’re uploaded to the cloud. Here’s how the company describes the process:
The plan was to roll the scanning feature out as part of iOS 15, but it’s yet another part of the OS that won’t be ready for the launch. The company already announced that iCloud Private Relay and SharePlay wouldn’t be ready for iOS 15’s launch. Its CSAM scanner now joins the list of delayed portions of the mobile operating system.
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