In June, during its Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple dedicated 10 minutes of its keynote to child safety features in iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27. This was a marked departure from previous years when the company seemed reluctant to acknowledge its role in children's online experiences.

Sarah Gardner, founder of Heat Initiative, noted this was a 'huge win'. After years of advocacy and legal pressure, Apple finally addressed these concerns. However, Gardner believes there’s more to be done: ‘While the features aren’t groundbreaking, they’re definitely steps in the right direction.’

The focus on Child Safety is part of a broader push from various stakeholders who have consistently highlighted issues like CSAM and nudification apps on its platforms. Apple's Communication Safety feature now blocks inappropriate content for under-18s, but critics question whether this is enough.

While Apple has removed harmful apps from the App Store and tightened restrictions during account setup, questions remain about consistency and accountability. The implementation of CSAM detection remains a contentious issue, with some experts arguing it could be used as a tool for government surveillance rather than child protection.