Facetime now assumes the role of a decency monitor, regulating explicit content.
In a move aimed at enhancing safety during FaceTime video calls, Apple is testing a new AI feature as part of the upcoming iOS 26 update. This innovative technology, designed to detect potentially sensitive content, particularly nudity, during video calls, has raised questions about privacy and the role of technology in regulating personal behaviour during private calls.
The FaceTime AI feature, currently available in the beta version of iOS 26, operates invisibly and automatically. It scans real-time video on the device using machine learning to detect when someone may be undressing or showing nudity. Upon detection, the system pauses the video and audio feed, displaying a message stating, "Audio and video are paused because you may be showing something sensitive. If you feel uncomfortable, you should end the call." Users have the option to either resume the call or end it from this screen.
Apple emphasises that this feature operates using on-device machine learning, meaning the analysis happens locally on the user's device. This design ensures that the company does not gain access to the photos or videos during the detection process, maintaining user privacy. However, the feature's availability for adult accounts in the iOS 26 beta may be unintended and subject to change before the public release.
The FaceTime AI feature is part of a larger set of child safety enhancements announced at WWDC 2025, aimed at preventing exposure to inappropriate content both in messaging and FaceTime calls. While primarily targeted at protecting children, as part of Apple's broader "Communication Safety" initiative, it is currently active for all accounts in the iOS 26 beta.
The implementation of this AI moderation tool has sparked controversy regarding privacy and possible overreach. Some argue that the lines between caution, consent, and control may become blurred as AI starts deciding what's too much, even during private calls.
It's important to note that this is not Apple's first foray into using AI to regulate content. The company already uses similar technology in messages to block sensitive photos from being viewed by minors. The next boundary for the FaceTime AI feature, or similar AI moderation tools, remains unclear.
In summary, the FaceTime AI feature in iOS 26 uses on-device AI to detect nudity and pause video calls proactively, delivering a sensitive content warning to users, mainly to protect minors but available on all accounts for now in beta testing. This technology raises questions about privacy and the role of technology in regulating personal behaviour during private calls, adding to the ongoing debate about the balance between safety and individual freedom in the digital age.
[1] Apple's FaceTime AI Feature in iOS 26 Detects Nudity During Calls, TechCrunch, [link] [2] Apple's FaceTime AI Feature: What You Need to Know, The Verge, [link] [3] Apple's FaceTime AI Feature: A Privacy Conundrum, Wired, [link] [4] Apple's FaceTime AI Feature: A Step Forward or Overreach?, Forbes, [link]
- This new AI feature in Apple's FaceTime, part of the upcoming iOS 26, extends beyond child safety, scanning for nudity during video calls on all accounts, not just those labeled as adult.
- In addition to managing content in messages, Apple's FaceTime AI feature is designed to regulate smartphone usage, with its ability to identify and pause video calls displaying potentially sensitive gadgets or image content.
