Apple to Scan Public iCloud 'Anyone with the Link' Shares for Undefined 'Harmful Content'
Apple announced via a support page that starting with iOS/iPadOS/macOS/visionOS 27.3, publicly shared iCloud links ('Anyone with the Link') will be scanned for 'harmful content,' a term the company has not defined. The policy applies only to content shared via public links, not direct person-to-person shares, and Apple notes that enabling this sharing option strips end-to-end encryption even if Advanced Data Protection is active on the account. Apple reserves the right to move, modify, remove, or delete flagged content, disable associated accounts, and involve law enforcement, raising concerns given the lack of transparency on detection methods (human review, automation, or AI) and the vague scope of 'harmful content,' which could extend beyond CSAM or malware to politically sensitive material. The feature ships in beta now, with general availability expected in December 2026.
Detalhes técnicos
The scanning applies specifically to iCloud items shared with the 'Anyone with the Link' option, which Apple can access and which removes end-to-end encryption protection from that content. Apple has not disclosed the technical mechanism for detecting 'harmful content,' nor whether automated systems, human moderators, or AI-based classifiers will make removal decisions.
Remediação
Users concerned about content privacy should avoid using the 'Anyone with the Link' public sharing option for sensitive material, since it bypasses end-to-end encryption and subjects content to Apple's moderation and potential law enforcement referral.
Linha do tempo
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Apple to Scan Public iCloud 'Anyone with the Link' Shares for Undefined 'Harmful Content'
ler a análise desta fonte ocultar
Apple announced via a support page that starting with iOS/iPadOS/macOS/visionOS 27.3, publicly shared iCloud links ('Anyone with the Link') will be scanned for 'harmful content,' a term the company has not defined. The policy applies only to content shared via public links, not direct person-to-person shares, and Apple notes that enabling this sharing option strips end-to-end encryption even if Advanced Data Protection is active on the account. Apple reserves the right to move, modify, remove, or delete flagged content, disable associated accounts, and involve law enforcement, raising concerns given the lack of transparency on detection methods (human review, automation, or AI) and the vague scope of 'harmful content,' which could extend beyond CSAM or malware to politically sensitive material. The feature ships in beta now, with general availability expected in December 2026.
Technical Details
The scanning applies specifically to iCloud items shared with the 'Anyone with the Link' option, which Apple can access and which removes end-to-end encryption protection from that content. Apple has not disclosed the technical mechanism for detecting 'harmful content,' nor whether automated systems, human moderators, or AI-based classifiers will make removal decisions.
Remediation
Users concerned about content privacy should avoid using the 'Anyone with the Link' public sharing option for sensitive material, since it bypasses end-to-end encryption and subjects content to Apple's moderation and potential law enforcement referral.