APPLE has released a major software update fixing a bug that caused millions of iPhone owners’ deleted photos to reappear.
A cyber glitch in the new iOS 17.5 update has led to reports of material magically resurfacing from the past.
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Apple described the unwanted bug as “a rare issue where photos that have suffered database corruption may reappear in the Photos library even if they have been deleted.”
But the problem, although “rare”, has sparked a furious debate about privacy on social media, with many questioning their trust in Apple.
A Reddit poster complained of NSFW “material” reappearing in recent photos despite being “permanently deleted years ago.”
Talk about the bug also came up on X.
“We have no privacy. They have everything. Apparently even excluded,” said a viral comment from the Majestic Memes account.
Another said: “Your delete button isn’t really a delete button. Scary”.
Privacy is a ‘fundamental human right’
By Millie Turner, technology and science reporter
Apple says it prioritizes privacy, that people’s right to run their businesses, their business it is a “fundamental human right,” according to its website.
The iPhone manufacturer has confirmed this statement in several ways: from introducing passkeys to the ability to lock different photo albums.
But experts have long said there are still gaps in Apple’s approach.
People already know what to do.
There are many technology companies and applications devouring our data.
You know what they say, if the app is free – you are the product.
But when you’re shelling out more than £1,000 for a shiny new iPhone, it’s not unreasonable to expect a stricter element of privacy, meaning your deleted photos are, in fact, deleted.
It’s like buying a car only to have Honda, Ford or anyone else accidentally pull up a list of the last places you’ve traveled.
Is weird. And a little scary.
But most importantly, it’s confusing.
There really could be a simple explanation behind all this, but what simple means to Apple isn’t so simple to the layman.
And it’s this uncertainty that allows privacy fears to turn into conspiracy rumors that consumers find difficult to shake.
Apple has not yet revealed how the problem occurred or how it stores photo data.
When iPhone owners delete images from their Camera Roll, they end up in a separate recently deleted folder, which permanently deletes the images after 30 days.
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Images can be deleted “forever” from the Recently Deleted folder manually.
Apple could overwrite the data instead of deleting it, according to Forbes, which would only happen when that part of the storage was needed for something else.
This could explain why they could be brought back from the dead.
But, as The Verge notes, “as long as Apple remains silent, we have no idea how far this bug will go.”
Some iPhone owners reported the same thing happening with deleted voicemails.
The Sun has contacted Apple for comment.
How to update
You’re looking for an update titled iOS 17.5.1 in the Settings app on your iPhone.
To find it, open the Settings app, click General, then Software Update.
You can choose to update the new software – and fix the bug – now or later, when your iPhone is charging (and connected to Wi-Fi) overnight.
This update is available on iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and newer devices.
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