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Apple defended its safety features to CNN saying it offers a feature that blurs image when nudity is detected while receiving or attempting to send content..
Apple said it offers a feature called Communication Safety that warns children and blurs the image when nudity is detected while receiving or attempting to send content.
The West Virginia of US on Thursday sued Apple alleging that the tech giant had allowed child sexual abuse materials to be stored and distributed on its iCloud service.
The lawsuit, filed by the attorney general’s office, has claimed that Apple prioritised user privacy over child safety for years.
CNN quoted the office stating that the company has tight control over its hardware, software and cloud infrastructure, meaning it cannot claim to be unaware of the issue, the attorney general’s office argued.
They said that US-based tech companies are federally required to report such detected content to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. While Google filed 1.47 million reports in 2023, Apple allegedly filed only 267, CNN reported.
Also Read: UK Orders Social Media Firms To Remove Abusive Images Within 48 Hours Of Receiving Alert
“These images are a permanent record of a child’s trauma, and that child is revictimized every time the material is shared or viewed,” West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey said in a news release. “This conduct is despicable, and Apple’s inaction is inexcusable.”
“At Apple, protecting the safety and privacy of our users, especially children, is central to what we do. We are innovating every day to combat ever-evolving threats and maintain the safest, most trusted platform for kids,” an Apple spokesperson said in a comment to CNN.
The company also pointed out that it offers a feature called Communication Safety that warns children and blurs the image when nudity is detected while receiving or attempting to send content. It works in apps like Messages and FaceTime, as well as over AirDrop and in the iPhone’s Contact Posters feature and the Photos app image selection tool. The spokesperson added that Apple’s parental controls and features “are designed with the safety, security, and privacy of our users at their core”
The West Virginia’s attorney general’s office has sought statutory and punitive damages, injunctive relief, as well as requirements for Apple to implement effective detection measures.
This comes amid increased scrutiny on the effects of Big Tech’s impact on children.
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
February 19, 2026, 23:13 IST
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