Apple is reportedly preparing to change a key privacy feature that allows paying users to hide their real email addresses when signing up for apps and online services.
The move could make it easier for websites and platforms to detect and potentially block anonymous or disposable sign-ups, raising fresh debate about the balance between privacy and online accountability.
According to Techcrunch, Apple notified developers on Monday that the company will, in the coming weeks, move its anonymously generated email addresses to @private.icloud.com, effectively making it easier for apps and websites to flag that an email address is private and block users from signing up.
The feature, known as 'Hide My Email', is part of Apple’s broader iCloud+ privacy tools and allows users to generate random email addresses that forward messages to their real inbox. It has become widely used by people who want to protect their identity, reduce spam, or avoid sharing personal contact details with third-party apps.
According to early reports, Apple is considering adjustments that would limit how easily users can create and reuse these masked email addresses across different services.
While the exact technical details are still unclear, the changes are expected to make it easier for apps to detect when a masked email is being used, prevent users from repeatedly creating new anonymous identities, and make it more difficult to bypass platform restrictions or bans using new relay emails.
If implemented, the update could reduce the effectiveness of “throwaway” email sign-ups, which are commonly used to create multiple accounts on the same platform.
Apple introduced Hide My Email as part of its growing focus on user privacy. The idea was to give users control over their personal data while still allowing them to register for online services.
Instead of sharing a real email address, users can generate a random address such as “
[email protected]”, which forwards messages to their actual inbox.
This helps reduce spam and limits how widely personal email addresses are shared across the internet.
The feature has been especially popular among users signing up for online shopping platforms, streaming services, trial subscriptions, and apps requiring email registration.
The proposed changes could have a significant impact on how users interact with online platforms. For users, it may mean less ability to stay anonymous online, increased exposure of real email identities and more spam in personal inboxes if masking becomes less effective
For companies and developers, however, the update could help reduce fake or duplicate accounts and improve security and fraud detection
Many apps struggle with users creating multiple accounts to bypass bans, access free trials repeatedly, or manipulate platform systems. Limiting anonymous sign-ups could help address these issues.
Critics, meanwhile, argue that weakening email masking tools reduces user privacy and makes it easier for companies to track individuals across services.
Apple has not yet officially confirmed a rollout date for the changes, and it is unclear whether the updates will apply globally or be introduced gradually.
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