Apple started scanning [[ICloud#Email|iCloud Mail]] for [[Child pornography|child abuse material]] in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Apple Has Reportedly Been Scanning Your iCloud Mail for Child Abuse Images Since 2019 |url=https://gizmodo.com/apple-has-reportedly-been-scanning-your-icloud-mail-for-1847538826 |access-date=September 3, 2021 |website=Gizmodo |date=August 23, 2021 |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117204245/https://gizmodo.com/apple-has-reportedly-been-scanning-your-icloud-mail-for-1847538826 |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 5, 2021, Apple confirmed it had planned to startedstart scanning [[ICloud#iCloud Photos|iCloud Photos]] for the same reason.<ref>{{cite web |title=Apple confirms it will begin scanning iCloud Photos for child abuse images |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/05/apple-icloud-photos-scanning/ |access-date=September 3, 2021 |website=TechChrunch |date=August 5, 2021 |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117204249/https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/05/apple-icloud-photos-scanning/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, after receiving a public backlash against scanning private photos, Apple backed down from its plans to scan iCloud Photos, and canceled them altogether in December 2022.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Newman |first=Lily Hay |title=Apple Kills Its Plan to Scan Your Photos for CSAM. Here's What's Next |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/apple-photo-scanning-csam-communication-safety-messages/ |access-date=January 15, 2023 |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117204253/https://www.wired.com/story/apple-photo-scanning-csam-communication-safety-messages/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
