Apple pauses plans to scan phones for images of child sexual abuse

Tech company Apple has delayed its plan to implement technology that would scan people's iPhones and iPads and report images of child sexual abuse and pornography. The rollout, which was announced in August as part of Apple's heightened protections for children, has not been issued a new release date. 

"Previously we announced plans for features intended to help protect children from predators who use communication tools to recruit and exploit them and to help limit the spread of child sexual abuse material," the company said in a statement Friday.  Apple's plans came under sharp criticism from privacy advocates who argued the technology could be retrofitted and used by government agencies or other officials as a form of spyware and was a steppingstone to large violations of user and public privacy.