The Attorney General of West Virginia has launched legal proceedings against Apple, accusing the technology company of allowing its iCloud service to be used to store and circulate child sexual abuse material over an extended period. The complaint asserts that the alleged activity persisted for years without sufficient intervention, with the state claiming Apple prioritised user privacy over stronger detection and reporting measures.

Central to the filing are internal communications attributed to Apple executive Eric Friedman. In messages disclosed during the 2021 Epic Games v. Apple trial, Friedman described iCloud as “the greatest platform for distributing child porn” in an exchange with another senior executive. According to the lawsuit, he suggested that while some competing platforms place safety ahead of privacy, Apple’s approach operated in reverse. These communications were previously reported after being revealed in court documents examined by media outlets.

West Virginia’s legal action argues that effective tools to identify and report child sexual abuse material are readily available but were not deployed by Apple. The company had announced plans in 2021 to introduce a scanning system for iCloud Photos intended to detect such material. However, that initiative was later withdrawn following criticism from privacy advocates who raised concerns about the broader implications of automated image monitoring.

The new case follows a separate lawsuit filed in 2024 by more than 2,500 individuals who alleged they were harmed because abusive images continued to circulate through Apple’s cloud infrastructure. That civil action advanced similar claims, asserting that Apple’s failure to introduce detection mechanisms contributed to ongoing damage suffered by victims.

In response to the earlier lawsuit, Apple stated that child sexual abuse material is abhorrent and emphasised its commitment to combating exploitation while preserving user security and privacy. The company said it was actively developing methods to address such crimes without undermining the protections built into its services.

The West Virginia proceedings mark the first time a state authority has brought this type of case against the iPhone manufacturer. Officials are seeking court orders that would require Apple to implement what they describe as meaningful detection safeguards, in addition to pursuing financial damages. Apple has been contacted for comment regarding the latest filing, and further updates are expected as the case develops.