In the latest “think of the children” measure, Apple’s scans will be on phones used by under 18s. Apple is rolling out the feature to iOS users in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. But apparently, it’s already live in Canada as part of the iOS 15.5 beta update.

Parents terrified of their teens seeing naked flesh can toggle the app on in the Screen Time settings. Any incoming or outgoing nude photo is automatically blurred and warning notifications pop up to provide the child (or teen) with guidance on how to seek help, redirecting them to online safety resources and reassuring them that it’s OK if they do not want to see the photo or to continue the conversation.

If the kid is younger than 13 the Messages app triggers a text exchange with the child’s parents or guardians. No word what happens if the pic was sent by their parent or guardian or Roman Catholic priest.

Like most software-based censorship it simplifies a problem to resolve it and applies standardised US models to countries (or even States) which do not have them. In the UK the age of consent is 17, in NZ it is 16. US states can’t agree but the numbers are between 16 and 18. So while Apple might be making life harder for paedophiles, it is making life hell for teenagers who are legally doing what they like.

It also assumes that the same software team which can’t write code to tell the time has written software which can tell the difference between a peach and a Richard pic. Imagine the problems for a family if you are alerted by Apple that your seven year old has been receiving porn images when they have actually been receiving fruit pictures which Apple’s software has misidentified.  Then there is the problem that the software procedure could effectively out LGBTQ+ kids to parents, who could potentially abuse them, kick them out of their homes, or otherwise punish them.