As Apple prepares to unveil its AI-powered iPhone, concerned parents and online safety advocates are calling on CEO Tim Cook to do more to protect kids from dangerous content on the App Store, The Washington Post has learned.
In a petition organized by advocacy groups Parents Together and HEAT Initiative, more than 7,800 parents, guardians, and other individuals called on Cook to “conduct independent, third-party review and verification of age ratings for apps on the Apple App Store.”
One shocking example is an AI-based “nudification” app that was only available to people aged 4 and over until recently, and was easy to download. National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenMeanwhile, a lawsuit has been filed in Iowa against TikTok, alleging that the app is inaccurately rated 12+ on the App Store, despite exposing children to “sexual content, self-harm, illegal drug use and worse.”
A staggering 87% of parents want Apple and other device makers to devote more resources to protecting kids from dangerous content. According to the results of a commissioned poll By group.
“Right now, parents can't trust Apple's ratings because both Apple and app developers have financial incentives to make their products available to more kids,” said Shelby Knox, online safety campaign director at ParentsTogether.
The group's survey found that 83% of parents are concerned their children will be exposed to “inappropriate content and dangerous online interactions with peers, adults and strangers” through their smart devices.
“Parents need to be able to trust Apple, which means they need app ratings to be independently reviewed and verified, just as they do for movies, TV and video games, so parents can make informed decisions about what's best for their kids,” Knox added.
74% of respondents said Apple and other companies should impose age restrictions set by independent experts.
The iPhone 16 is due to be unveiled at a highly-anticipated event at Apple's Cupertino headquarters on Monday.
Cook has touted the new smartphone as a “game changer” and the “next big step” for the company as it tries to reverse slumping sales. The device is equipped with a suite of AI called “Apple Intelligence” and has partnered with ChatGPT maker OpenAI.
Sarah Gardner, CEO of the Heat Initiative, said the concept of independent app ratings had been “overwhelmingly well received” among parents.
“Movies, TV shows and video games are all subject to independent review and ratings by organizations with no direct financial interest in the products, so it makes sense that the approximately 2 million apps in the Apple App Store go through a similar process,” Gardner said in a statement.
The group's survey surveyed 1,007 parents with children in kindergarten through 12th grade.Number The survey was conducted by Bellwether Research via text and telephone from August 17th to August 23rd, targeting students with access to smartphones or tablet devices.
The iPhone launch comes as Apple and other big tech companies face increased scrutiny from Congress for failing to protect children online, and there are legislative efforts underway in Congress and in some states to hold the companies accountable.
Critics say Apple has a history of avoiding responsibility on this issue.
In 2021, Louisiana lawmakers proposed a bill that would impose age restrictions on Apple that would block minors from downloading certain apps.
Apple threatened to cancel production of a Will Smith movie in the state if they didn't make concessions. The Wall Street Journal reported.The app store provision was later removed.
Apple argues that age verification requirements should be placed on social media companies and that forcing the company to share users' ages with third-party apps would violate user privacy.
The company denied pressuring lawmakers over the bill.
