The US-based tech giant Apple is being accused of being insufficient in reporting child abuse cases. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) in the UK claims that the numbers of cases reported by Apple are significantly lower than the actual occurrences. NSPCC stated that Apple reported only 267 child abuse cases throughout 2023, but independent research identified 337 cases between April 2022 and March 2023. This situation brings serious accusations against the tech giant for being insufficient in combating child abuse.
Shortcomings in Apple’s Child Abuse Reporting
There is an agreement that requires child abuse cases identified between NSPCC and US-based tech firms to be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the US. However, according to NSPCC’s claims, Apple is falling short in making the necessary reports. Compared to other tech giants, Apple’s reporting numbers are quite low. For instance; Google reported 1,470,958 cases in 2023, while Meta reported 17,838,422 and 11,430,007 cases on Facebook and Instagram platforms, respectively.
Debate Over Apple’s Role in Combating Child Abuse
Apple has not yet made a new statement on this matter. The company had previously defended itself by stating that it could not access messages on iMessage. However, despite Meta’s inability to access WhatsApp messages, its high number of reports raises questions about the adequacy of Apple’s explanations. This situation initiates a broader discussion on the tech giant’s role and responsibilities in combating child abuse.