Apple has launched a feature on its iMessage platform that will allow children to report nude images and videos to the tech firm that would then bring it to the notice of law enforcement agencies.

The change is being rolled out first in Australia from Thursday (Oct 24).

The beta release is part of an update of Apple's operating system and extends the safety measures earlier given to users aged under 13 since iOS 17.

Watch: Shocking Rise In AI-produced Child Abuse Material

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/shocking-rise-in-ai-produced-child-abuse-material-768803/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Here is how the new feature aimed at further protecting user privacy will work:

The iPhones can automatically detect images and videos that contain nudity that children might receive or attempt to send in iMessage, AirDrop, FaceTime and Photos.

When such sensitive imagery is&nbsp;detected, the young users will be given intervention screens before they can proceed.

There will be options to contact a parent or guardian and to&nbsp;report the images and videos to Apple.

The device will then generate reports containing the visuals, as well as messages preceding and following the images and videos.

The report will include contact information of both the sender and receiver.&nbsp;

Users can fill out a form to explain what happened, which Apple will review.

Action such as disabling the users' ability to send messages through iMessage will follow. 
 
Apple can also report the issue to law enforcement agencies.

The tech giant said the feature will eventually be rolled out across the world after the beta test in Australia.

Australia was chosen as the first region in the wake of new rules being implemented in the country to crack down on controversial content on tech platforms and devices.

The new rules require companies to monitor child abuse and terror-related content on messaging and cloud services in Australia by the end of 2024.

While Apple maintains that the new features would&nbsp;protect end-to-end encryption and raised concerns about mass surveillance, the law has been softened a bit.

Yet, the&nbsp;Australian&nbsp;government insists that&nbsp;companies must&nbsp;take action to tackle child abuse and terror content.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-catholic-diocese-to-pay-323mn-to-530-child-sex-abuse-survivors-in-largest-diocese-bankruptcy-762507">New York Catholic diocese to pay $323mn to 530 child sex abuse survivors, in largest US diocese bankruptcy</a>

Apple has drawn criticism across the world over its reluctance to ease up on its end-to-end encryption to help law enforcement.

There was earlier a plan from Apple to scan photos and videos stored in its iCloud for child sexual abuse material (CSAM), but that was scrapped in late 2022 over privacy concerns.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/india-trumps-china-as-manufacturer-of-apples-most-expensive-iphone-pro-and-pro-max-models-751537">Also read: India trumps China as manufacturer of Apple's most expensive iPhone Pro and Pro Max models</a> 
 
In the UK, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children had accused Apple of vastly undercounting how often CSAM appears in its products, according to a report in The Guardian newspaper.

Apple reported only 267 cases of suspected CSAM on its platforms in 2023.

That's seen as a massive under-reporting when compared to Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, which submitted more than 30 million CSAM reports. 
 
Google sent nearly 1.5 million reports in the same period.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Apple has launched a feature on its iMessage platform that will allow children to report nude images and videos to the tech firm that would then bring it to the notice of law enforcement agencies.

Apple has launched a feature on its iMessage platform that will allow children to report nude images and videos to the tech firm that would then bring it to the notice of law enforcement agencies. The change is being rolled out first in Australia from Thursday (Oct 24). The beta release is part of an update of Apple's operating system and extends the safety measures earlier given to users aged under 13 since iOS 17. Watch: Shocking Rise In AI-produced Child Abuse Material × Here is how the new feature aimed at further protecting user privacy will work: The iPhones can automatically detect images and videos that contain nudity that children might receive or attempt to send in iMessage, AirDrop, FaceTime and Photos. When such sensitive imagery is detected, the young users will be given intervention screens before they can proceed. There will be options to contact a parent or guardian and to report the images and videos to Apple. The device will then generate reports containing the visuals, as well as messages preceding and following the images and videos. The report will include contact information of both the sender and receiver. Users can fill out a form to explain what happened, which Apple will review. Action such as disabling the users' ability to send messages through iMessage will follow. Apple can also report the issue to law enforcement agencies. The tech giant said the feature will eventually be rolled out across the world after the beta test in Australia. Australia was chosen as the first region in the wake of new rules being implemented in the country to crack down on controversial content on tech platforms and devices. The new rules require companies to monitor child abuse and terror-related content on messaging and cloud services in Australia by the end of 2024. While Apple maintains that the new features would protect end-to-end encryption and raised concerns about mass surveillance, the law has been softened a bit. Yet, the Australian government insists that companies must take action to tackle child abuse and terror content. Also read: New York Catholic diocese to pay $323mn to 530 child sex abuse survivors, in largest US diocese bankruptcy Apple has drawn criticism across the world over its reluctance to ease up on its end-to-end encryption to help law enforcement. There was earlier a plan from Apple to scan photos and videos stored in its iCloud for child sexual abuse material (CSAM), but that was scrapped in late 2022 over privacy concerns. Also read: India trumps China as manufacturer of Apple's most expensive iPhone Pro and Pro Max models In the UK, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children had accused Apple of vastly undercounting how often CSAM appears in its products, according to a report in The Guardian newspaper. Apple reported only 267 cases of suspected CSAM on its platforms in 2023. That's seen as a massive under-reporting when compared to Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, which submitted more than 30 million CSAM reports. Google sent nearly 1.5 million reports in the same period. (With inputs from agencies)

Now, children using iMessage platform can report nudity to Apple; feature rolls out in Australia

In a bid to curb online child sexual abuse material, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Tuesday asked all internet service providers (ISPs) to prevent the distribution and transmission of such content into India by adopting and implementing Internet Watch Foundation Resources on or before July 31.

The ministry instructed ISPs having cable landing station gateways or international long distance licenses in India to observe the existing due diligence requirements prescribed by the Central Government under the Information Technology Act, 2000.

In December 2016, the central government had constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to recommend specific solutions to address the issue of such material online.

&quot;The IMC observed that most of such online CSAM is being hosted outside India and the websites/URLs containing such content are dynamic in nature and frequently changing, making it difficult to identify and block such content. No centralized mechanism exists in India to monitor online CSAM,&quot; the ministry said in a statement.

Globally, there are only a few major resources that provide a dynamic list of websites/URLs identifying such online material, it added.

The committee recommended that till such time a centralised mechanism is built in India to dynamically monitor websites/URLs containing such online materials, the relevant ISPs in India should adopt and disable/remove the online CSAM dynamically based on the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) list.

IWF has been adopted by many countries and is already being implemented by leading online service providers in other jurisdictions.

(IANS)

The central government had constituted a committee to address the issue

In a bid to curb online child sexual abuse material, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Tuesday asked all internet service providers (ISPs) to prevent the distribution and transmission of such content into India by adopting and implementing Internet Watch Foundation Resources on or before July 31. The ministry instructed ISPs having cable landing station gateways or international long distance licenses in India to observe the existing due diligence requirements prescribed by the Central Government under the Information Technology Act, 2000. In December 2016, the central government had constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to recommend specific solutions to address the issue of such material online. "The IMC observed that most of such online CSAM is being hosted outside India and the websites/URLs containing such content are dynamic in nature and frequently changing, making it difficult to identify and block such content. No centralized mechanism exists in India to monitor online CSAM," the ministry said in a statement. Globally, there are only a few major resources that provide a dynamic list of websites/URLs identifying such online material, it added. The committee recommended that till such time a centralised mechanism is built in India to dynamically monitor websites/URLs containing such online materials, the relevant ISPs in India should adopt and disable/remove the online CSAM dynamically based on the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) list. IWF has been adopted by many countries and is already being implemented by leading online service providers in other jurisdictions. (IANS)

Government directs ISPs to prevent the distribution of child sexual abuse material

csam

Csam, News on Csam, stories on Csam, articles on Csam, Csam stories at Wion, Csam news, Csam latest news