If some random person decides you need to see a picture of his anatomy, iOS 17 will save you. The new Sensitive Content Warning scans texted images and automatically blurs any that contain nudity.
It’s a feature already in iPhone to protect children, and it’s now being extended to adults.
Adults don’t want your nudes, either
Apple introduced Communication Safety in 2021. This blurs nude images sent in messages to children. But adults also don’t want to be forced to look at unsolicited nudes.
That’s where the new Sensitive Content Warning comes in. The feature coming in iOS 17 can automatically blur unwanted nude images and videos sent to anyone, not just minors. It’s then up to the user to decide if they want to see it or delete it.
The feature is optional, and turned off by default.
And it extends beyond texts. Sensitive Content Warning will be available in Messages and also AirDrop, Contact Posters in the Phone app, FaceTime messages and third‑party apps.
Sensitive Content Warning is not a privacy violation
A highlight of the iPhone Message application is end-to-end encryption. No one can read messages but the sender and receiver. The nudity warning coming in iOS 17 doesn’t change this.
“As with Communication Safety, all image and video processing for Sensitive Content Warning occurs on-device, so Apple does not get access to the content,” the company promises.
The feature will debut when iOS 17 has its full launch, while will likely be in September. It’s only available in beta form now.
