Over the past month, Australians have noticed that their iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads, have gained an odd string of text — “ONLINE_SAFETY_AU_REGULATORY_ACTION” — in the settings section for Apple’s Message app.
Some prominent X and Instagram accounts known for sharing misinformation and conspiracy theories have claimed this setting is linked to Australia’s forthcoming social media ban. “Looks like the social media age restriction infrastructure is already being deployed to Apple products,“ wrote one account.
Apple says this is wrong. In an on-the-record statement, a company spokesperson said the “inactive link in Message settings is an error and will be removed in an upcoming software update”.
The company also provided background information highlighting the Australia-specific features that have been recently introduced to Apple devices following the rollout of Australia’s online safety industry codes by the eSafety commissioner.
This includes allowing Australians to directly report unwanted nude images and other images that break the industry codes to Apple from the app.
There’s no evidence supporting the idea that Apple has taken any steps to implement any age assurances or estimation features in response to the teen social media ban. The law does not apply to Apple given it does not run a social media platform.
The immediate suspicion of a phone glitch seemingly showing some government internet intervention demonstrates a reflexive cynicism and opposition towards any online regulation in some sections of the Australian community.
After the recent backlash to even an essentially non-invasive Apple Photos feature, government and companies like Apple need to be thoughtful and transparent about the rollout of changes to the devices and online infrastructure that Australians value. Otherwise they will face further opposition to useful changes.
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