Apple to delay release of child safety features amid privacy uproar

Apple said it will delay the release of child safety features which included scanning phones in the U.S. for images of child abuse. In a statement emailed to USA TODAY Friday, Apple said it would take time to consider improvements to the features, which had been criticized for potentially harming users' privacy. "Based on feedback from customers, advocacy groups, researchers and others, we have decided to take additional time over the coming months to collect input and make improvements before releasing these critically important child safety features," said the company. Introduced in August, the child safety features were aimed at limiting the spread of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The features included tools in the Messages app warning kids and parents when they send or receive sexually explicit photos.