Apple has announced a new direction for its privacy and security policies, starting with the release of operating system updates in version 27.3. This includes scanning files and items stored on the iCloud cloud storage service that are shared in a way that makes them accessible to anyone with the link, in order to search for what the company calls "harmful content."
According to support documents revealed by technical reports, sharing any item via iCloud using access permissions available to anyone with the link means that this content will no longer be subject to end-to-end encryption. Instead, it will become accessible to the company to inspect its contents and ensure it is free of violations.
What changes practically for users?
Although Apple's technical support documents do not provide a precise and detailed definition of what the company considers "harmful content," this move comes in response to ongoing pressure and demands from human rights and advocacy groups calling for the company to tighten oversight and combat child exploitation material stored on its cloud platform.
When attempting to upload or share content that is found to be violating or harmful, Apple reserves the full right to take strict measures, including:
- Moving, rejecting, modifying, or permanently deleting the content.
- Blocking or disabling the accounts of violating users and preventing them from creating new accounts.
- Contacting security agencies and law enforcement authorities when absolutely necessary.
Availability timeline
Apple has released the first developer beta versions of the 27.3 operating system updates, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS, while the company plans to release the final version to general users during the coming month of December.