Mother Emphasizes Difficulties of Apple’s Family Sharing Post Relationship Separation

**The Exploitation of Apple’s Family Sharing Feature: A Cautionary Narrative**

A mother with court-approved custody of her children has illuminated how Apple’s Family Sharing feature can be exploited by a former partner, exposing critical weaknesses in the system that may lead to control and manipulation. Despite her efforts to seek assistance from Apple support, she found herself unsupported as her ex-partner took advantage of the service to retain authority over their shared children.

### Grasping Family Sharing

Launched in 2014 with iOS 8, Family Sharing permits families to share App Store and iTunes purchases, manage app downloads, and track locations via functionalities like Find My Friends. Each family member can maintain their own Apple ID while sharing a single payment method. Parents are also able to approve their children’s purchases directly from their devices, creating a seamless experience for overseeing family accounts.

Beyond purchase management, Family Sharing enhances family connectivity and organization by allowing access to shared calendars, reminders, and photo albums.

### A Shortcoming in the System

Nevertheless, a crucial shortcoming in the Family Sharing framework becomes apparent when relationships deteriorate. The feature gives authority to a single organizer, usually the parent who establishes the account. This arrangement can lead to serious complications, especially in instances of separation or divorce. The non-organizing parent, despite having legal custody, cannot remove their children from the Family Sharing group without permission from the organizer.

One mother, referred to as Kate for confidentiality, encountered this situation directly. Following the end of her marriage, her ex-husband, as the appointed organizer, utilized Family Sharing to monitor their children’s locations, oversee screen time, and enforce strict limits during her custody intervals while easing them during his own. Although she held a court order solidifying her custody, Kate found that she was unable to shift her children to a new Family Sharing group without her ex-husband’s consent. Apple support staff showed empathy but clarified that the organizer’s authority was definitive.

### Ramifications of Control

The ramifications of such control can be profound. In Kate’s instance, the inability to dissolve the family group left her powerless, unable to safeguard her children against her ex-partner’s encroachment. The prevalent advice in these circumstances is to discard existing accounts and create new Apple IDs. However, this remedy comes with considerable downsides, including the forfeiture of purchased apps and, more critically, beloved photos and videos that encapsulate years of family memories.

Kate’s ordeal is not unique; numerous others have faced parallel obstacles, underscoring a systemic flaw within Apple’s Family Sharing model. The absence of dual-organizer roles creates a situation where one parent can exert excessive power, potentially leading to abusive dynamics in blended or shared households.

### Final Thoughts

The Family Sharing feature, intended to promote family connectivity and convenience, possesses a troubling aspect that can be exploited in scenarios of conflict. As technology increasingly integrates into our daily lives, it is essential for companies like Apple to acknowledge and rectify these weaknesses. The experiences of individuals like Kate serve as vital reminders of the necessity for systems that prioritize safety and equality, especially in fragile family situations.

Apple Contributed $8 Million to EU Lobbying Activities Last Year, Holding 76 Meetings

**Apple’s Advocacy Activities in the EU: An In-Depth Examination**

A recent analysis by Corporate Europe Observatory has illuminated the noteworthy lobbying investments of major technology firms in the European Union, with Apple standing out as a significant participant. Over the past year, Apple allocated €7 million (about $8.1 million) towards lobbying initiatives, positioning it among the leading spenders in the tech industry, alongside Amazon and Microsoft.

The analysis points to an escalating pattern where technology firms are outpacing traditional sectors such as pharmaceuticals and automotive in their lobbying endeavors. The budget for lobbying within the digital sector has risen from €113 million in 2023 to €151 million in 2025, marking a 33.6% increase in merely two years. This surge emphasizes the tech sector’s vigorous drive for the deregulation of the EU’s digital legislation.

Apple’s lobbying pursuits encompassed 76 meetings with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and high-ranking officials from the European Commission. This degree of participation reflects the fierce policy confrontations currently in progress, with Big Tech companies holding an average of more than one lobbying session per day with EU representatives. Meta topped the spending at $10 million, while Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft each expended €7 million.

From January to June 2025, Big Tech entities collectively conducted 146 meetings with European Commission personnel, with Amazon at the forefront with 43 meetings, trailed by Microsoft (36), Google (35), Apple (29), and Meta (27). Moreover, these corporations organized 232 meetings with MEPs within the same timeframe, averaging close to two meetings per working day.

The analysis implies that the actual lobbying amounts might be underestimated, as EU transparency regulations only encompass meetings with high-ranking officials. Additionally, lobbying efforts are frequently bolstered by industry organizations that receive support from these technology titans. Apple is affiliated with nearly all of the 15 largest tech think tanks engaged in EU lobbying.

Apple’s lobbying undertakings are particularly significant due to its ongoing antitrust conflicts with the EU. The company has openly opposed the Digital Markets Act (DMA), calling for its repeal. This position reflects Apple’s wider approach to sway regulatory frameworks that might affect its business activities in Europe.

In summary, Apple’s considerable commitment to lobbying the EU underscores the growing significance of regulatory influence within the tech sector. As the digital environment continues to progress, the relationship between technology behemoths and regulatory authorities will remain a vital focus for both policymakers and industry participants.