Apple to Scan Public iCloud Share Links for Harmful Content Starting in Upcoming OS Updates

Content shared via “Anyone with the Link” will be moderated, though Apple has not defined the term “harmful content”

Apple plans to begin moderating content shared through public iCloud links, according to a support document published Tuesday. The change, slated for iOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, macOS 27.3, and visionOS 27.3, applies specifically to items shared using the “Anyone with the Link” option, rather than content shared privately with specific individuals.

“Items shared using Anyone with the Link will be checked by Apple for harmful content,” the help page states, without providing a definition for the term. The company notes that enabling public link sharing removes end-to-end encryption for the shared item, even if Advanced Data Protection is active for the account.

Apple reserves the right to “move, refuse, modify, remove, or delete the content at any time” if it is deemed harmful, and may also block or disable associated accounts. The document further indicates that law enforcement may be involved when necessary, implying the policy targets material such as child sexual abuse content, malware, and other illegal material.

However, the absence of a clear definition for “harmful content” leaves users without transparency regarding enforcement boundaries. Critics have raised concerns that vague moderation policies could be subject to political pressure or inconsistent application. Apple has not disclosed whether human reviewers, automated systems, or a combination of both will conduct the scans, nor has it addressed the potential for algorithmic errors.

The beta versions of the affected operating systems were released to developers on Tuesday, with a general release expected in December. Apple did not respond to requests for comment.

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