Apple is bringing its Communication Safety in Messages safeguarding feature to six more countries around the world, according to a report from iCulture, which suggests that Apple will bring the feature to users in the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Japan, South Korea, and Brazil in the coming weeks.
Currently, Communication Safety in Messages is only available in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States —a feature which sends warnings to alert children and parents when a sexually explicit image is sent or received on a device connected to iCloud Family Sharing, as well as the automatic blurring of explicit images sent in Messages to children.
With Communication Safety in Messages turned on, any explicit images received by a child will be blurred and the minor will be warned, presented with helpful resources, and reassured it is okay if they do not want to view the photo.
As an additional precaution, the child can also be told that, to make sure they are safe, their parents will get a message if they do view it. Similar protections are available if a child attempts to send sexually explicit photos. The child will be warned before the photo is sent, and the parents can receive a message if the child chooses to send it.
Apple announced it would be expanding the availability of its Communication Safety in Messages feature earlier this month in recognition of Safer Internet Day, although no further details were shared at the time.