The change was noted by Reddit user MaGNeTiX, Mashable reports. After installing iOS 9 Beta 5, a prominent message appears on the lock-screen of iPhones and iPads that are managed by a corporate IT leader, warning the user that their activities could be monitored.
The message is a new component of Mobile Device Management (MDM), part of Apple’s Device Enrolment Program which helps businesses to maintain and configure large volumes of company devices from one location. Usually, employees are left free to access the majority of the phone’s features. The new warning message will serve as a reminder to workers who may use their phone for activities considered inappropriate for office hours.
New “This iPhone is managed by your organisation” message in iOS 9.3 Beta 5 on lockscreen and in Settings > General > About
Reddit user MaGNeTiX
The banner reads “This iPhone is managed by your organisation,” quietly informing the user that they aren’t holding their own device. The message is repeated in the “About” page of the settings menu and only appears when the iPhone is enrolled in Apple’s Supervised Devices mode.
Although not a major addition, the feature highlights Apple’s commitment to protecting user privacy. Some people supplied with an iPhone by their work may not be aware their employer can monitor their activities, an issue that the message will help to mitigate.
Users don’t directly gain increased privacy but are prompted to consider whether they are using their phone for communications considered safe for work. It increases the transparency of the iOS software, preventing an employer from secretly monitoring the activities of their workers by supplying pre-configured managed devices.
The privacy-oriented feature has been introduced as Apple fights an FBI ruling forcing it to unlock an iPhone. The device, owned by one of the San Bernardino shooters, has been the centre of controversy for several weeks as Apple has refused to decrypt the software, claiming that doing so would set a dangerous precedent for the future.
In January, Apple CEO Tim Cook used an open letter and interview to re-emphasize Apple’s commitment to providing its users with secure and private software, describing the government’s demands as “chilling” and the “software equivalent of cancer.” The increased transparency of Supervised Devices mode in the latest iOS beta could an example of Apple’s intent to continue increasing the security and privacy of its devices.
iOS 9.3 is currently in its fifth beta version with developers. It will be rolled out to all iPhones when Apple has finished testing and polishing the update.
