Apple races to temper outcry over child-porn tracking system

The outcry highlights a growing challenge for Apple: preventing its platforms from being used for criminal or abusive activities while also upholding privacy – a key tenet of its marketing message. — AFP

Apple Inc is racing to contain a controversy after an attempt to combat child pornography sparked fears that customers will lose privacy in a place that’s become sacrosanct: their devices.

The tech giant is coaching employees on how to handle questions from concerned consumers, and it’s enlisting an independent auditor to oversee the new measures, which attempt to root out so-called CSAM, or child sexual abuse material. Apple also clarified on Aug 13 that the system would only flag cases where users had about 30 or more potentially illicit pictures.