{
  "id": 18282812,
  "title": "Apple to Start Scanning Publicly Shared iCloud Photos and Files for Harmful Content",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/apple-to-start-scanning-publicly-shared-icloud-photos-and-files-for",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-05T09:13:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hacker News",
    "slug": "the-hacker-news",
    "url": "https://thehackernews.com/2026/11/apple-to-start-scanning-publicly-shared.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Apple is set to initiate the scanning of publicly shared iCloud photos and files for potentially harmful content, beginning with the release of iOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, macOS 27.3, and visionOS 27.3. This update will specifically target situations where users share iCloud content through links, making it accessible to anyone with the link, including Apple. Starting with version 27.3 or later of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS, Apple will scrutinize items shared using the \"Anyone with the Link\" option for harmful content, as outlined in a support document published on Tuesday. The company has clarified that sharing an item accessible by \"Anyone with the Link\" will negate end-to-end encryption (E2EE), regardless of whether Advanced Data Protection, an optional security setting, has been enabled for iCloud Backup, Photos, and Notes. However, it remains uncertain what criteria Apple will use to define \"harmful content\" and whether this monitoring will be applied retrospectively to existing links or new ones created before the 27.3 updates are rolled out later this December. Apple has also cautioned that uploading harmful content could result in its removal or deletion, and may even lead to actions against the user's Apple Account, such as blocking or disabling the account, restricting the creation of new accounts with the associated email address or phone number, or involving law enforcement if necessary.",
  "summary": "Apple has revealed that it plans to start checking public iCloud links for harmful content starting with iOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, macOS 27.3, and visionOS 27.3. The change specifically applies to scenarios where users share iCloud content, such as photos in iCloud Photos or files in iCloud Drive, by sharing a link and making it accessible to \"Anyone with the link.\" When users choose this option,",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "9to5Mac",
        "title": "With iOS 27.3, Apple will start checking iCloud public links for ‘harmful content’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/with-ios-27-3-apple-will-start-checking-icloud-public-links-for",
        "published": "2026-11-04T15:55:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "AppleInsider",
        "title": "iCloud's 'Anyone with the Link' option will trigger Apple content checks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/iclouds-anyone-with-the-link-option-will-trigger-apple-content-checks",
        "published": "2026-11-04T16:33:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Verge",
        "title": "Apple will check shared iCloud links for ‘harmful content’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/apple-will-check-shared-icloud-links-for-harmful-content",
        "published": "2026-11-04T18:23:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MacRumors",
        "title": "Apple Will Check Public iCloud Links for Harmful Content Starting in iOS 27.3",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/apple-will-check-public-icloud-links-for-harmful-content-starting-in",
        "published": "2026-11-04T19:12:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Register",
        "title": "Apple turns iCloud into spy cloud, will start looking at public share links",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/apple-turns-icloud-into-spy-cloud-will-start-looking-at-public-share",
        "published": "2026-11-04T21:49:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}