United States of America: West Virginia Attorney General filed lawsuit against Apple over alleged failure to detect and report child sexual abuse material on iCloud

On 19 February 2026, the Attorney General of West Virginia filed a lawsuit against Apple in the Circuit Court of Mason County, West Virginia. The complaint alleges that Apple designed and maintained its product ecosystem, including iCloud, in a manner that facilitates the storage and dissemination of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The State alleges that Apple deliberately designed its encryption and cloud infrastructure in a manner that hinders the effective detection and reporting of unlawful content. Furthermore, it is asserted that Apple neglected to implement CSAM detection technologies despite prior consideration of such tools. The complaint further alleges that Apple's conduct constitutes strict liability for design defect, negligence for failure to implement adequate detection and reporting mechanisms, creation or contribution to a public nuisance, and violations of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act (WVCCPA). The State has formally requested that the court grant injunctive relief, requiring Apple to cease the alleged nuisance and bring its conduct into conformity with West Virginia law. In addition to this, the State is seeking restitution, disgorgement, civil penalties, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees.