this post was submitted on 05 Mar 2026
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Privacy

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(Not sure if this is worldwide or only in some countries)

Updating to iOS 26.4DB2 will put your phone into a parental-restricted mode with adult websites blocked on all browsers, warning prompts every time you try to send or receive an explicit image on a messaging app, and all social media apps blocked on the App Store (in Australia)

The settings to disable this mode are locked off until you verify your age either with a credit card, photo ID, or though information Apple already has (like the age of your account).

I've been an apple user my entire adult life but this might finally be the thing that forces me off the platform. Do any other long term apple users have some tips about migrating? I've heard Ashai Linux is pretty good on mac hardware these days and I've been thinking about GrapheneOS for a while.

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[–] 7112@lemmy.world 127 points 4 days ago (4 children)

This is insane. They have to view your images to deem of they are explicit...

Basically a year away from a universal internet ID that will track all movements and can be restricted if your government doesn't like you.

[–] Zephorah@discuss.online 48 points 4 days ago (5 children)
[–] DevotedShitStain69@lemmy.world 32 points 4 days ago

They probably do it for people like Donald and all his Epstein friends to save and pre order.

[–] 7112@lemmy.world 22 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Has this expanded from iCloud uploads? It's crazy how using a device now requires users to allow company full access yo everything.

[–] Zephorah@discuss.online 16 points 4 days ago

I guess I never believed it was limited to iCloud.

[–] joelfromaus@aussie.zone 12 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Do they though? As a side note, I read the documentation for the proposed system of scanning and it was actually really well designed for privacy. The problem was if they were forced to expand the scope to include other material such as, for example, proof of protest against a regime.

[–] Zephorah@discuss.online 3 points 4 days ago

Com’n. All loss of privacy is a foot on the door to access more.

[–] degen@midwest.social 3 points 3 days ago (2 children)

If you read the article, they don't.

[–] Zephorah@discuss.online 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Who was the guy several years ago who was charged with child pornography for receiving a pic of his infant son’s rash for the doctor on his phone? Was that not iCloud via Apple scanning for questionable images?

Something I heard on the old OSINT podcast years ago.

[–] degen@midwest.social 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Apple also said its anti-CSAM tool will not allow the company to see or scan a user's photo album. It will only scan photos that are shared on iCloud.

The system will look for matches, securely on the device, based on a database of hashes of known CSAM images provided by child safety organisations.

Scanning yes, viewing no.

I remember hearing about that though. On first glance that shouldn't be possible with what apple says they do. I feel like there was another detail I can't recall that made more sense of it, but maybe not.

[–] Zephorah@discuss.online 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Hey degen, I’ve got your journal in my hands right now. It’s ok though, I promise only to look at the cover and not read it. You’re cool with that right?

[–] root@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

Wanted to view*

[–] CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world 28 points 4 days ago (1 children)

This also means they are tracking all the websites you are going to.

[–] Auli@lemmy.ca 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

They already are. Well depends on who they are I guess but someone is.

[–] CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago

This would be pre vpn or anything else you could do to protect your privacy - if it’s at the OS level it’s before the browser and VPN level

That’s not happening now, but it’s the only way the are gonna be able to to check content to make sure “ the children are safe “

[–] ThomasWilliams@lemmy.world 26 points 4 days ago (1 children)

To get a sim card in Australia you need to show identification. There is no anonymity.

[–] LordCrom@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago (2 children)

For a phone sim.....of course you do. I mean they would know who pays the bill anyway right? Unless you have a phone company that takes bitcoin or cash only.

[–] ThomasWilliams@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

You don't need ID to buy a sim in the US or UK, or most countries in fact. Most sims in Australia are pre-paid, not contract.

[–] freedickpics@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 days ago

Phone companies are required to collect and retain IDing info of customers to activate a phone number in Australia. There's no way around it unfortunately

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

That was already happening, as the option to block sending and receiving of such content was able to be turned on in your screen time settings, and you could mandate it for your children by managing your kids accounts on the family organizers device. If someone is under the age of 13 they are required to be on a family share, and if you don't have "Ask to Buy" enabled, from what I know you won't get a refund for anything with the excuse my kid bought this without permission.

Overall it all seems logical, but in those scenarios the ages and requirements are mostly all controlled by the parent.

[–] 7112@lemmy.world 12 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Scary. I had no idea it went beyond the iCloud scans. I avoided the cloud after that celebrity image leak.

Guess we might see a rise in offline or dumb devices. I wonder how this will affect other nations that already have restrictive internet access. If the ~~US~~ West becomes more locked down where would free and accessible info go?