iOS 26 New FaceTime Feature Will Freeze Calls If Sensitive Content Is Detected, Even for Adults

Highlights

• iOS 26 introduces a FaceTime safety tool that automatically pauses video and audio if nudity is detected during a call even for adults.
• Apple confirms that all detection happens locally using on-device machine learning, and no data is sent to Apple’s servers.
• Though originally designed for child accounts, the feature appears active for all users in the beta, raising privacy concerns and confusion.

Caption – iOS26 Beta shows new safety feature for FaceTime users. (Photo by Mariia Shalabaieva on Unsplash)

One of the new features discovered in iOS 26 is a new safety tool in FaceTime. It automatically freezes your video and audio if someone on the call starts “undressing.”

Originally announced as part of Apple’s family tools for child accounts, the feature is meant to block nudity during FaceTime calls. Apple discloses, “Communication Safety expands to intervene when nudity is detected in FaceTime video calls, and to blur out nudity in Shared Albums in Photos.”

According to reports from user iDeviceHelp on X (formerly Twitter), the iOS 26 beta shows that this function seems to be active for all users including adults.

When nudity is detected, FaceTime instantly pauses the call, displays a warning message. As revealed in the screenshot shared by iDeviceHelp on X, the warning message says, “Audio and Video are paused because you may be showing something sensitive. If you feel uncomfortable, you should end the call.”

Caption – iOS 26 Beta features make FaceTime show a warning sign on detecting sensitive visuals during a call. (Image credit – iDeviceHelp on X)

FaceTime, thereafter, gives users the option to resume the video and audio or end the call.

It’s still unclear whether this feature is intentionally enabled for adults or if it’s just a bug in the beta version. Apple hasn’t clarified yet.

Naturally, this has raised some privacy concerns. However, Apple says its Communication Safety system uses on-device machine learning to detect nudity and nothing is sent to Apple’s servers.

As Apple explains, “Communication Safety uses on-device machine learning to analyze photo and video attachments and determine if a photo or video appears to contain nudity. Because the photos and videos are analyzed on your child’s device, Apple doesn’t receive an indication that nudity was detected and doesn’t get access to the photos or videos as a result.”

So while the new FaceTime feature may feel intrusive, all analysis happens locally on your device, keeping your calls private from Apple.

FAQs

Q1. What does the new FaceTime feature in iOS 26 do when it detects nudity?

Answer. When nudity is detected, FaceTime instantly pauses the call, displays a warning message. FaceTime, thereafter, gives users the option to resume the video and audio or end the call.

Q2. Is the nudity detection feature in FaceTime active for all users?

Answer. According to reports from user iDeviceHelp on X (formerly Twitter), the iOS 26 beta shows that this function seems to be active for all users including adults.

Q3. Does Apple access your data when nudity is detected in FaceTime?

Answer. Apple says its Communication Safety system uses on-device machine learning to detect nudity and nothing is sent to Apple’s servers.

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