Apple deletes iCloud mails containing phrase 'barely legal teens'
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 26th Feb 2013 21:31 UTC
Apple Well paint me red and call me a girl scout. "In its latest push to get porn off your computer, Apple now deletes all iCloud emails that contain the phrase 'barely legal teens'. It doesn't send the messages to spam, or flag them, it just straight up deletes them, and there's nothing you can do about it." So, at least we can finally put that silly myth to rest that Apple respects users' privacy. They scan your emails, including attachments, just like everyone else.
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RE[2]: Talk about a strawman
by leos on Wed 27th Feb 2013 06:10 UTC in reply to "RE: Talk about a strawman"
leos
Member since:
2005-09-21

Of course it has to do with privacy. Apple fans' logic never ceases to amaze me.

Google has automated bots scanning your emails for targeted ads so you don't see irrelevant crap: PRIVACY ISSUE.

Apple has automated bots reading your emails to delete what it believes does not adhere to US puritanical views: NOPE, NOT A PRIVACY ISSUE YOU GUYS.

The world is crazy.


I see the google comment police is out in force again today.

Truly amazing you don't understand the difference between spam filtering and targeted advertising based on my non-spam emails. Time to take the blinders off Thom.

Reply Parent Score: -2

RE[3]: Talk about a strawman
by franksands on Wed 27th Feb 2013 14:37 in reply to "RE[2]: Talk about a strawman"
franksands Member since:
2009-08-18

SO you think it's a good thing Apple deletes any email containing the phrase "barely legal teens"? This is not spam filtering, it's deleting messages without asking you . What if it was an important email from a relative saying something like "Can you take me to the hospital tomorrow? Since my children are barely legal teens, they can't drive."

Reply Parent Score: 3

RE[4]: Talk about a strawman
by jido on Wed 27th Feb 2013 16:10 in reply to "RE[3]: Talk about a strawman"
jido Member since:
2006-03-06

Did you try it yourself?

It doesn't look like Apple deletes all mails with these words, it only deletes spam messages with these words.

This said, if the "hospital" message registers as spam according to the filter you won't see it. So don't rely too much on mail.

Reply Parent Score: 1

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RE[4]: Talk about a strawman
by leos on Wed 27th Feb 2013 18:48 in reply to "RE[3]: Talk about a strawman"
leos Member since:
2005-09-21

SO you think it's a good thing Apple deletes any email containing the phrase "barely legal teens"?


Yes clearly. That must have been why I wrote: "Filtering "barely legal teens" is pretty laughable and the wrong approach"

This is not spam filtering, it's deleting messages without asking you. What if it was an important email from a relative saying something like "Can you take me to the hospital tomorrow? Since my children are barely legal teens, they can't drive."


LOL. Is this argument ad absurdum? There isn't even any evidence that these emails are being deleted. As many people have pointed out, you can happily send emails containing that phrase and it will not delete them.

Reply Parent Score: 1