Apple’s ecosystem of apps and phones makes it very easy to use the information on your computer, share your location with friends, or keep track of where your kids are. There’s a shadow side to this set of features too – there’s nowhere to hide, literally or figuratively, for phone users in abusive relationships; if you need to get out of a dangerous situation quickly, leave yours behind. A cell phone is unthinkable, but if the person you’re trying to escape can gain access to your location and information, that phone can also prove dangerous.
In partnership with NNEDV (National Network for the Elimination of Domestic Violence), NCVC (National Centre for Crime Victims) and Australia’s WESNET (Women’s Services Network), Apple has developed a new set of features to help people in abusive relationships for their own Safety requires getting off the radar.
Safety Check is a new section in the iOS 16 settings interface that lets you quickly review who sees what. Within the tool, there’s a detailed, customizable set of sharing and access settings, but more importantly, there’s a panic button that resets anyone’s possible access to your information, app access, location tracking, and other critical information.
With an emergency reset, you can push a button and walk out the door untracked. The idea is to be able to rip permissions off in an emergency, making it easier for you to cut ties and be safe.
It resets system privacy permissions for all apps, also automatically checks out iCloud on all your devices, and restricts Messages and FaceTime to the device in your hand to avoid text messages being read on a computer that’s logged in somewhere Pick.
Non-panic buttons help manage security and privacy settings, give people access to tools that help manage who can access what, and users can verify the permissions they grant to certain apps.
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