this is how the blurring of sensitive photos will work

The protection of underage users is a central concern for digital players. And while Instagram was working on the integration of an AI able to verify a user’s age from a selfie, Apple sought a way to protect underage iPhone users from sensitive content.

Among the solutions offered by the Cupertino company on its products, there is a feature on the iMessage service that automatically blurs images containing nudity. This feature is now already available in the US, UK, New Zealand, Canada and Australia.

And apparently, this protection will also be rolled out in France and Germany this year. Indeed, as our colleagues from 01net report, these features are making their arrival on iOS 16 beta, iPad OS 16, as well as macOS Ventura, for French users. Thus, normally, the novelty should therefore be launched to the general public in France during the official release of these operating systems.

This feature will be called “Communication Security in Messages,” and it will be available to children in a Family Sharing group.

As Apple explains on its French Canadian help page: “Turn on communications safety to help prevent your child from viewing or sending photos containing nudity in the Messages app. If Messages detects that a child is receiving or trying to send this type of photo, Messages blurs the photo before it appears on your child’s device, and provides age-appropriate tips and resources for the child to help him make a safe choice, such as contacting someone he trusts. »

According to Apple, its system uses machine learning to detect images that contain nudity. It also specifies that this mechanism was designed so that Apple does not have access to the analyzed images.

To activate this feature, when it becomes available, here is the procedure to follow:

“On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > Screen Time. On a Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Screen Time. (If you haven’t already enabled Screen Time, use parental controls to enable it.)
Tap the name of a child in your family group.
Next, tap Communications security, then tap Continue.
Enable Search Sensitive Photos. You may need to enter the Screen Time passcode for the device.”

Blurring sensitive images and asking for help

When Apple’s AI detects nudity in an image shared via iMessage, it blurs it. iOS also displays a warning to the child.

And that’s not all, the messaging application will also offer actions, such as leaving the discussion, blocking the contact, leaving a group, or even accessing information on online security.

In addition to this, the child can also ask for help from a trusted person.

But the child can also still access the blurred images. If he makes this choice, iMessage will display new warnings, and will explain to the child that he is not obliged to participate in the conversation.