Apple's Safety Check in iOS 16 allows users to revoke information from abusers

Posted:
in iOS edited June 2022
Apple's new Safety Check feature helps victims sever potentially dangerous ties with abusers, allowing them to remotely disable messaging on secondary devices, turn off location tracking, and more.




During the WWDC 2022 keynote, Apple announced a new feature debuting in iOS 16 geared toward helping users trapped in abusive situations. The feature, dubbed Safety Check, allows users to revoke access they've granted to others.

Users can quickly reset all privacy permissions, sign out of iCloud on all devices, and limit all incoming and outgoing messaging to a single device by performing an emergency reset. Additionally, it disables location tracking permissions that they may have given to a domestic or intimate partner.

To create Safety Check, Apple paired with agencies such as the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the National Center for Victims of Crime, and WESNET.

Safety Check also seeks to help users better understand and manage which people ad apps they've given access to.

Apple continues to expand upon safety and privacy features. In 2020, Apple announced privacy "nutrition labels," which details what information an app gathers from users, whether or not the app tracks users, and what data is linked back to a user.

At WWDC 2022, Apple also announced new features to simplify children's account management. These new features guide parents through setting up content restrictions for minors, screen time limits, and location sharing with family members.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 5
    So my biggest question. Is how do the prevent abusers from misusing the undo send or edit in iMessages? 15 minutes is to long.
  • Reply 2 of 5
    chasmchasm Posts: 3,479member
    So my biggest question. Is how do the prevent abusers from misusing the undo send or edit in iMessages? 15 minutes is to long.
    Presumably, Safety Check revokes an abuser's ability to send messages entirely, but I'm sure there will be numerous refinements to all this over the year to come.
  • Reply 3 of 5
    crowleycrowley Posts: 10,453member
    So my biggest question. Is how do the prevent abusers from misusing the undo send or edit in iMessages? 15 minutes is to long.
    How do you mean?
  • Reply 4 of 5
    TeamNIRTeamNIR Posts: 4member
    Does this now give kids the ability to reset their location privileges and screen time settings?
    appleinsideruser
  • Reply 5 of 5
    mknelsonmknelson Posts: 1,137member
    crowley said:
    So my biggest question. Is how do the prevent abusers from misusing the undo send or edit in iMessages? 15 minutes is to long.
    How do you mean?
    Abuser/harasser could send harassing pictures or text, edit or delete, and "No, Your Honour, I never sent that!"

    There needs to be a mechanism to archive/save the original version for evidence beyond a mere screen shot. Even if it's something that has to be extracted from a backup (thank's iMazing!) the way you might export a whole messages thread.
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