The moderation system arrives with the upcoming version 27.3 updates rolling out across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS. Under the new policy, the company can move, modify, reject, or remove any flagged files shared through public link permissions. The documentation omits a strict definition of what qualifies as harmful, leaving platform operators broad discretion. Beyond removing offending files, account owners face permanent bans and potential legal repercussions.
Key points
Files shared via open links will lose standard privacy protections across all major platf…: Files shared via open links will lose standard privacy protections across all major platform updates.
Protests urging the platform to combat child sexual abuse material prompted this administ…: Protests urging the platform to combat child sexual abuse material prompted this administrative policy update.
Users sharing unapproved material risk total platform bans alongside prospective criminal…: Users sharing unapproved material risk total platform bans alongside prospective criminal investigations.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Apple will start checking iCloud items that are accessible to anyone who has the link for “harmful content” starting with iOS 27.3 and other 27.3 updates, the company says.
Apple will check shared iCloud links for ‘harmful content’
If you make an item on iCloud available to anyone who has the link, Apple will be able to check it starting with iOS 27.3.
If you make an item on iCloud available to anyone who has the link, Apple will be able to check it starting with iOS 27.3.
“When you share an item that can be accessed by Anyone with the Link in version 27.3 or later of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS, that content is made accessible to Apple to check for harmful content,” according to a support document reported on by 9to5Mac. Sharing something over iCloud with the “Anyone with the Link” permissions will also mean that it’s no longer end-to-end encrypted.
Apple’s support document does not define what “harmful content” is. But this new approach follows calls from protestors for Apple to crack down on child sexual…
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