On February 19, 2026, John “JB” McCuskey, the Attorney General of West Virginia in the United States, initiated a consumer protection lawsuit against Apple. The lawsuit accuses Apple of neglecting to effectively thwart the storage and dissemination of child sexual abuse material via its iOS devices and iCloud services. McCuskey condemned Apple's approach, arguing that the tech giant has placed its privacy-centric brand image and commercial interests above the safety of children. In contrast, he pointed out that other technology firms, including Google, Microsoft, and Dropbox, have proactively tackled this issue by implementing systems such as PhotoDNA.

In 2021, Apple undertook testing of a feature designed to detect child sexual abuse material. However, the company ultimately shelved the initiative, citing concerns over user privacy. Since then, Apple's subsequent measures have fallen short of addressing the criticisms leveled against it. In 2024, both a supervisory body in the UK and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California made similar allegations against Apple, further intensifying the scrutiny on the company's handling of this sensitive issue.

Should the lawsuit prove successful, Apple may find itself compelled to revise its product design or enhance its data security protocols. In response to the allegations, an Apple spokesperson emphasized that safeguarding user safety and privacy remains a cornerstone of their operations. The spokesperson also highlighted existing features, such as parental controls, as evidence of Apple's commitment to addressing these concerns.