Survivor Sues Apple for Failing to Protect Her from Child Sexual Abuse Imagery.
In a harrowing case that sheds light on the pervasive issue of child sexual abuse, a 27-year-old woman has filed a lawsuit against tech giant Apple, alleging the company’s failure to effectively address the proliferation of illegal imagery related to her abuse.
The woman, who is using a pseudonym to protect her identity, was subjected to horrific abuse from a relative from infancy, with the perpetrator taking photographs and sharing them online. The abuse continued as another man was allowed access to the victim, compounding the trauma.
Despite Apple’s much-publicized efforts to tackle the issue, the woman says the company has failed to live up to its promises. The lawsuit states that the tech giant introduced a tool to scan for and remove illegal images of sexual abuse, only to later abandon the initiative amid criticism from cybersecurity experts.
“Instead of using the tools that it had created to identify, remove and report images of her abuse, Apple allowed that material to proliferate, forcing victims of child sexual abuse to relive the trauma that has shaped their lives,” the lawsuit alleges.
The woman’s lawyer, James Marsh, highlights the far-reaching consequences of Apple’s alleged inaction, stating that the case could involve a potential class of 2,680 victims who are eligible to be part of the lawsuit.
Under the law, these victims are entitled to a minimum of $150,000 in damages, which could result in a total award exceeding $1.2 billion if Apple is found liable.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, seeks to not only compensate the victims but also compel Apple to change its practices and take meaningful steps to protect children from the ongoing trauma of sexual abuse imagery.
In response to the lawsuit, Apple spokesperson Fred Sainz pointed to the safety tools the company has introduced to curtail the spread of newly created illegal images, underscoring the tech giant’s efforts to address the issue.
However, the woman’s legal team argues that these measures fall short of the company’s previous commitments and have failed to adequately safeguard victims like her.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child sexual abuse and the pressing need for technology companies to take robust and sustained action to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
