For years, child safety advocates accused Apple of treating itself as a bystander in kids' online lives. At June's Worldwide Developers Conference, the company spent roughly 10 minutes of its keynote proving otherwise, unveiling the most substantial rework of its parental controls in years.

The timing wasn't lost on Heat Initiative founder and CEO Sarah Gardner a nonprofit focused on child safety in Big Tech. She was outside Apple Park in Cupertino during the keynote, marking her fifth protest at the company's headquarters.

Gardner, who has spent 15 years in online trust and safety work, told WIRED that Apple had long resisted acknowledging its role in children's digital experiences, comparing the company's posture to insisting it was "just hardware".

She credits sustained advocacy, along with active litigation, for forcing the shift. Apple is currently defending a lawsuit filed by West Virginia alleging its business practices shield child sexual abuse material.

This controversy dates back to 2021, when Apple........

© The News International