
When it comes to technology, one thing's certain: some people will use it to send unsolicited, unwanted and unpleasant images to others. That's going to be less of a concern with iOS 17, which will launch at the same time as the iPhone 15.
There's a feature in iOS 16 called communication safety, pictured above, and while that one is designed for kids' accounts it's going to work in more apps and be available for users of all ages in iOS 17. It's a good feature for parents, but I think it's also going to be useful for anyone who has been, or doesn't want to be, exposed to creepy communications.
What does Communication Safety do in iOS 17?
Communication Safety already lives in Screen Time alongside the existing family safety features on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. To enable it, tap the name of the child in your family group, tap on Communication Safety, and then turn on Check for Sensitive Photos.
That feature uses machine learning to analyse incoming photos in Messages in order to identify what their content may be. If the algorithm reckons it might be a sexual image, the app blurs it and marks it as potentially sensitive content. Messages will then tell the user it's okay if they don't want to see it, and will offer three options: message a grown-up, block the contact, or find out other ways to get help.
In iOS 17 the feature gets much more useful because it won't just be in Messages and it won't just be for kids. Communication safety will also work in other apps including AirDrop, the new Contact Posters feature and FaceTime messages. Apple hasn't yet said whether it'll also work with FaceTime video calls.
From a privacy point of view, there's nothing here to worry about: all the analysis happens on the device so any images you send that might have been wrongly identified as nudity won't be tagged and stored on Apple's servers.
It's saddening that such a feature is necessary but I think it strikes the right balance between protecting kids and going too heavy on filtering. iOS 17 is expected to launch in late September 2023.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Writer, musician and broadcaster Carrie Marshall has been covering technology since 1998 and is particularly interested in how tech can help us live our best lives. Her CV is a who’s who of magazines, newspapers, websites and radio programmes ranging from T3, Techradar and MacFormat to the BBC, Sunday Post and People’s Friend. Carrie has written more than a dozen books, ghost-wrote two more and co-wrote seven more books and a Radio 2 documentary series; her memoir, Carrie Kills A Man, was shortlisted for the British Book Awards. When she’s not scribbling, Carrie is the singer in Glaswegian rock band Unquiet Mind (unquietmindmusic).
-
Apple iPhone SE 4 could launch as soon as next week, claims expert
The rumours suggest a decent overhaul too
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
This Apple Watch cable can also charge your iPhone or even a Samsung Galaxy S25
This interesting cable from Nomad is perfect for Apple fans who travel
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
Apple Invites is the party planning app your iPhone deserves
The new Apple app is designed to help you create custom invitations
By Mat Gallagher Published
-
iPhone SE 4 price could be surprising... in a good way
This might be my favourite iPhone this year
By Sam Cross Published
-
Apple could launch something completely new this week
This is an unexpected development
By Sam Cross Published
-
Samsung's Vision Pro rival to get a big boost from a clever Google acquisition
Google is buying HTC's XR division to work on Android XR – the driving force behind Project Moohan
By John McCann Published
-
Bizarre iPhone 17 photo leak shows Apple could be heading in a new direction
Alleged early images of the rear casing reveal a very different type of camera... for Apple, at least
By Rik Henderson Published
-
iPhone SE 4 could make iPhone 16 irrelevant – will reportedly include Dynamic Island
But will it have Camera Control and the Action Button?
By Britta O'Boyle Published