{"id":2406659,"date":"2025-02-25T17:17:02","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T22:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/apple-rejects-efforts-to-protect-kids-from-sex-abuse-repeal-dei\/"},"modified":"2025-02-25T17:21:29","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T22:21:29","slug":"apple-rejects-efforts-to-protect-kids-from-sex-abuse-repeal-dei","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/apple-rejects-efforts-to-protect-kids-from-sex-abuse-repeal-dei\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple Rejects Efforts To Protect Kids From Sex Abuse, Repeal DEI"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fapple-rejects-efforts-to-protect-kids-from-sex-abuse-repeal-dei%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2406659&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>At Apple&#8217;s recent annual shareholder meeting, the company\u200d rejected a resolution that sought accountability for its measures to protect\u200d children from online sexual abuse.The resolution was \u200dpart of a larger agenda \u2064set by \u2064conservative groups in \u200bcollaboration with the Alliance Defending Freedom. it called for \u200bApple to provide a report \u2063on its removal of a function designed to identify child abuse material and to reconsider \u200cits diversity,equity,and inclusion (DEI) policies deemed divisive and legally risky. Apple dismissed all four proposals, asserting that the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">anti-child abuse \u200bresolution implied support<\/a> for universal surveillance. Critics,including the National Center on Sexual\u200d Exploitation,accused Apple of contributing to sexual exploitation by not implementing \u2064robust measures to detect \u200cchild sexual abuse material and allowing inappropriate apps for young users. Apple\u2019s CEO, tim Cook, indicated that while \u200cthe company would maintain its DEI initiatives for now, there might be future changes to their diversity practices based on evolving legal conditions. The discussions at the shareholder meeting are seen as a starting point for ongoing calls for reforms at the \u2064company.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Apple rejected a resolution seeking accountability for its measures to protect children from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-depth-parents-should-not-post-childrens-photos-online-warn-safety-experts\/\" title=\"Safety experts warn against parents posting children&#039;s photos online.\">online sex abuse<\/a> and voted to keep radical DEI programs during the company&rsquo;s annual shareholder meeting.<\/p>\n<p>Conservative groups working with legal firm <a href=\"https:\/\/adflegal.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alliance Defending Freedom<\/a> set the entire agenda of four resolutions at Apple&rsquo;s Feb. 25 shareholder meeting, according to ADF Director of Communications and Coalitions Jay Hobbs in a same-day press conference.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>One resolution demanded a report on the &ldquo;decision to remove an iOS software function designed to identify <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/anti-sex-trafficking-advocates-slam-twitter-on-heels-of-bombshell-lawsuit-from-teen-victim\/\" title=\"Anti-Sex Trafficking Advocates Slam Twitter On Heels Of Bombshell Lawsuit From Teen Victim\">child sex abuse material<\/a>,&rdquo; according to Hobbs. Other resolutions also called on Apple to drop &ldquo;divisive, discriminatory and legally-risky DEI policies,&rdquo; to report its ethical practices for AI data collection, and for transparency about &ldquo;partnerships with activist groups that pressure companies to harm free speech and religious freedom,&rdquo; like the so-called <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/human-rights-campaign\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Human Rights Campaign<\/a> and radical <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/southern-poverty-law-center\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Southern Poverty Law Center<\/a>. According to BBC News, Apple <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/clyjv8e49deo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rejected<\/a> all four proposals.<\/p>\n<p>But Jerry Bowyer, president of Bowyer Research &mdash; which <a href=\"https:\/\/adflegal.org\/press-release\/adf-shareholder-coalition-allies-set-agenda-apples-annual-shareholder-meeting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">worked with<\/a> the American Family Association to file the anti-child sex abuse resolution &mdash; suggested Apple might still change its policies going forward.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In today&rsquo;s meeting, Apple did budge a little bit,&rdquo; Bowyer said in the ADF briefing. &ldquo;I think there&rsquo;s more budging to be done.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Dodging Accountability for Child Porn<\/h2>\n<p>The company claimed in its <a href=\"https:\/\/s2.q4cdn.com\/470004039\/files\/doc_financials\/2025\/Proxy_Statement_2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2025 Proxy Statement<\/a> that the anti-child sex abuse resolution called for &ldquo;universal surveillance.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Apple has demonstrated its commitment to helping protect children in a changing online landscape and has developed innovative technologies like Communication Safety,&rdquo; the company said in the document.<\/p>\n<p>But the National Center on Sexual Exploitation <a href=\"https:\/\/endsexualexploitation.org\/apple\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">names<\/a> Apple as a &ldquo;mainstream contributor to sexual exploitation.&rdquo; According to the NCSE, the company has &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/endsexualexploitation.org\/apple\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">abandon[ed]<\/a>  plans to detect child sex abuse material on iCloud&rdquo; and allows sex-themed apps for children as young as 4.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This Big Tech titan refuses to detect child sex abuse material, hosts dangerous apps with deceptive age ratings and descriptions, and won&rsquo;t default safety features for teens,&rdquo; reads the NCSE website. &ldquo;At a time when child exploitation is at an all-time high and accelerating at alarming rates, Apple has not only failed to make common-sense changes to further safeguard their young users but has arguably set back global efforts to end sexual exploitation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Apple previously <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/files\/corpfin\/no-action\/14a-8\/afaapple1225-14a8.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">asked<\/a> the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to let it dodge the resolution seeking accountability for efforts to combat online child sex abuse, but the SEC denied Apple&rsquo;s request.<\/p>\n<p>The resolution <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/files\/corpfin\/no-action\/14a-8\/afaapple1225-14a8.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">demanded<\/a> the company prepare a publicly accessible &ldquo;transparency report on the costs and benefits of the company&rsquo;s decisions regarding its use of child sex abuse material (CSAM) identifying software.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Rather than providing answers to good-faith questions on this crucial topic, Apple tried to evade accountability by asking the SEC to remove it from their ballot,&rdquo; Jeremy Tedesco, ADF&rsquo;s senior counsel and senior vice president of corporate engagement, said in the press conference.<\/p>\n<h2>Keeping DEI Alive<\/h2>\n<p>While Apple also rejected the resolution to abandon DEI, company CEO Tim Cook <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/clyjv8e49deo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a> it may need to change &ldquo;diversity practices&rdquo; in the future.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Tim Cook went out of his way to claim that Apple has never had racial or gender quotas and will not have them, and indicated the possibility of more change in the future, depending on the evolving legal framework,&rdquo; Bowyer said.<\/p>\n<p>Apple&rsquo;s website says the company is &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/diversity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">prioritizing<\/a> equity and representation within our teams,&rdquo; and &ldquo;working toward a future in technology that is more diverse.&rdquo; The company also runs a &ldquo;Racial Equity and Justice Initiative.&rdquo; The day after taking office, President Donald Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/01\/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ordered<\/a> federal agencies to &ldquo;enforce our longstanding civil-rights laws and to combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Tedesco said the momentum for corporate reform is just beginning.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not a matter of adopting the proposal, it&rsquo;s a matter of setting the agenda at the shareholder meeting and with corporate leaders,&rdquo; Tedesco said. &ldquo;This doesn&rsquo;t end just because Apple doesn&rsquo;t produce the report or adopt the proposal. This is the beginning of a conversation, and it&rsquo;s going to be a long one, until we see the changes that we want from this company.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Logan Washburn is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawsuit-clark-county-keeps-commercial-addresses-on-voter-rolls\/\" title=\"Lawsuit: Clark County Keeps Commercial Addresses On Voter Rolls\">staff writer covering election integrity<\/a>. He is a spring 2025 fellow of The College Fix. He graduated from Hillsdale College, served as Christopher Rufo&#8217;s editorial assistant, and has bylines in The Wall Street Journal, The Tennessean, and The Daily Caller. Logan is from Central Oregon but now lives in rural Michigan.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Apple rejected a resolution for child protection accountability at its shareholder meeting<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":507,"featured_media":2406660,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Macbook.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[50972,33414,51089,41593],"class_list":["post-2406659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-apple-2","tag-child-protection","tag-dei-repeal","tag-sex-abuse"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Macbook.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2406659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/507"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2406659"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2406659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2406663,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2406659\/revisions\/2406663"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2406660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2406659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2406659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2406659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}