Unofficial archive. This is a read-only, community-run archive of the Apple Support Community. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Inc.

Deleting intimate medias on iMessage from both end because it’s harmful

Hi I have intimate videos and photos on my iMessages convo with my ex I would like to delete them on both end all media attachement because it could turn messy, I know basic rsc message are not deletable but it’s only pics and videos sent with iMessage I want to it to be erased on her device particulary but if it’s both end I’m ok and I think it’s under rgpd laws

3 replies

You can only control your own device and what you choose to send to others. Once you do that they can do whatever they want with it, including posting on Social Media or sending to other people. You cannot prevent that from happening. Apple can't see the Messages from a users device as they are End to End encrypted so even they cannot access them. Apple does not even have them to produce to Law Enforcement with a subpoena.


Beyond that it is a Civil matter or possibly Criminal if laws are violated and you would need to pursue it there.

Sakin_ wrote:
Hi I have intimate videos and photos on my iMessages convo with my ex I would like to delete them on both end all media attachement because it could turn messy, I know basic rsc message are not deletable but it’s only pics and videos sent with iMessage I want to it to be erased on her device particulary but if it’s both end I’m ok and I think it’s under rgpd laws

You can't delete what's off their device unless they do it.

As correctly stated, sent messages can’t be recalled, past an initial brief window.


The recall you are seeking is also less than effective generally, as the sensitive media can already have been transferred to other storage. But that hypothetical infinite message recall would itself also be a mess, given its usefulness for removing evidence of harassment.


If this does get messy, it’s quite possibly going to involve lawyers. Yes, yet more messier.