Under Apple's new policy, the company will scan publicly shared iCloud links for harmful content - and possibly ban violators.

Be careful what you share in your iCloud. Apple announced it will start monitoring public iCloud links for harmful content — and potentially disable accounts that violate company policy.

The change comes with the impending release of Apple’s 27.3 build across its operating systems. If an iCloud user selects “Anyone with the link” when sharing something in a group chat or Discord server, it’s considered a public link; Apple is within its rights to scan for anything that violates company policy or is potentially illegal.

If you try to upload harmful content, Apple says it reserves the right to “move, refuse, modify, remove, or delete” your content at any time. Furthermore, Apple outlines possible actions it may take, including:

Apple’s announcement did not explain what “harmful content” would mean in practice. While there are obvious violations like drug sales and child sex abuse material, the new policy’s vagueness is concerning.

Once an iCloud link is shared under the “Anyone with a link” designation, end-to-end encryption is removed, even if either party has enabled Advanced Data Protection, which allows Apple to view the link’s content.

If you select “People you choose,” which limits access to users who have been invited or approved, the encryption remains in place, and Apple won’t be able to see what you’re sharing.

The new policy does not lay out an appeals process if you think your account or content has been falsely flagged as harmful.

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