Deleted NSFW Photos Make an Unexpected Comeback with iOS 17.5 Update

Some things are always unsettling: A Reddit user posted that after installing the latest iOS update and attempting to send an image, they discovered that the most recent photos were NSFW content taken with their partner, photos which had been deleted back in 2021. The user did not specify whether they had iCloud backup enabled.

In theory, deletion should mean permanent removal. So, what's the deal with these photos reappearing? Does this mean iOS never truly deletes users' photos?

In the discussion thread, other users also reported similar incidents where photos taken in April 2023 appeared in their albums after updating iOS. One user, who had iCloud backup enabled, speculated that the photos were not completely cleared from iCloud at the time of deletion and somehow got restored due to some issues.

A developer guessed that Apple might have fixed a photo library index issue within the Photos app, but it could have some side effects causing this situation. Alternatively, it was suggested that when users delete a photo, Apple might not actually destroy the data but simply mark the photo as deleted, making it invisible to the user, which is a chilling thought if true.

Another user hypothesized that when a photo is permanently deleted from the “Recently Deleted” folder, Apple only marks the photo’s library record and index for deletion, making it invisible and unsearchable. However, an iOS update could force a reindexing due to a bug, accidentally finding these files presumed to be part of a lost database, thus adding the photos back and displaying them in recent items.

Lastly, a user mentioned not using iCloud backup but still experiencing reappearances of a photo taken in June 2023 that they were certain had been deleted.

Apple has always prided itself on its commitment to privacy and security. If the deletion operation doesn't permanently remove photos, it represents a significant privacy issue. This speculation seems to be the most plausible explanation for why photos deleted years ago could reappear.

The specific details of this situation may only be clarified by Apple. However, it's expected that Apple will provide an appropriate reason for this occurrence. What do you think that reason might be?