Apple adds iOS Safety Check for people facing domestic violence

Apple announced a new Safety Check feature to iOS Monday, aimed at people who’re planning to leave an abusive relationship. The feature lets users review and reset who has access to location information as well as passwords, messages and other apps on an iPhone. 

Apple debuted the feature at its annual WWDC event. Safety check responds to the fact that phones can become a liability when people try to leave abusers, a time that domestic violence experts say is the most dangerous point in an abusive relationship. Features that can be convenient in a family or relationship, like sharing location and passwords, give abusers dangerous information.

“In abusive relationships, this can threaten users’ safety,” said Katie Skinner, a privacy engineering manager at Apple, at the event Monday.

Apple worked with domestic violence prevention agencies to develop the feature, including the National Network to End Domestic Violence and the National Center for Victims of Crime. 

“Safety check helps give control back to survivor,” the National Center for Victims of Crime said in a statement.