As Apple prepares to unveil an AI-powered iPhone, concerned parents and online safety advocates are demanding that CEO Tim Cook step up efforts to protect children from dangerous content on the App Store, The Post has learned.
In a petition campaign organized by advocacy groups Parents Together and the Heat Initiative, more than 7,800 parents, caregivers, and other individuals urged Cook to “implement independent, third-party review and verification of app age ratings in the Apple App Store.”
According to the report, troubling examples include an AI “nudifying” app, which until recently was rated for ages 4+ and was freely available for download. National Centre for Missing and Exploited ChildrenOn the other hand, the lawsuit filed against TikTok in Iowa argues that the app is falsely rated 12+ in the App Store while it exposes children to “sexualized content, self-harm, illegal drug use, and worse.”
87% of parents want Apple and other device manufacturers to invest more resources into protecting children from dangerous content. According to the results of a survey by groups.
“Right now, parents can't trust Apple's ratings, as both Apple and app developers have a financial incentive 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 fear their children will be exposed to “inappropriate content and unsafe online interactions with peers, adults and strangers” through smart devices.
“Parents need to be able to trust Apple, which means Apple requires independent, third-party review and verification of app ratings, like movie, TV or video game ratings, so parents can make informed decisions about what's best for their children,” Knox said.
74 percent of respondents said Apple and other companies should enforce age restrictions set by independent experts.
The iPhone 16 will be unveiled on Monday during a much-anticipated event at Apple's Cupertino headquarters.
Cook has described the new phone as a “game changer” and the “next big step” for the company as it tries to reverse declining sales. The device features a set of AI tools called “Apple Intelligence” and Partnership with ChatGPT creator OpenAI,
Heat Initiative CEO Sarah Gardner said the concept of independent app ratings is “overwhelmingly popular” with parents.
“Movies, TV shows and video games are all subject to independent review and ratings from organizations that have no direct financial interest in the product, so it's a matter of common sense that the nearly two million apps on the Apple App Store should go through a similar process,” Gardner said in a statement.
The group's survey spoke to 1,007 parents whose children study from kindergarten through 12th grade.th The survey was conducted by Bellwether Research from Aug. 17 to Aug. 23 via text and phone questionnaires to obtain grades via smartphone or tablet.
The launch of the iPhone comes at a time when Apple and other big tech giants are Facing increasing scrutiny on Capitol Hill for their alleged failure to protect children onlineLegislative efforts are underway in Congress and inside Several different states held companies accountable,
According to Apple critics, Apple has a history of avoiding responsibility on this issue.
In 2021, Louisiana lawmakers proposed a bill that would require Apple to enforce age restrictions, preventing minors from downloading certain apps.
Apple responds Will Smith's film production threatened to be cancelled in the state until they retreat, The Wall Street Journal reportedThe app store provision was later removed.
Apple has argued that age verification requirements should fall on social media companies, claiming user privacy would be compromised if the company was forced to share its users' ages with third-party apps.
The company denied pressuring lawmakers on the bill.
