What really happens when you delete a photo from your phone’s camera roll?
When Apple released iOS 17.5 in May, some users found previously deleted files popping up on their devices, including old photos. Apple released a fix – iOS 17.5.1 – just days later, but it raised the question of where those deleted files came from.
It also raised questions about what really happens to our digital data once its created. Does it exist somewhere forever, or can it be permanently deleted?
Victoria Song, senior reviewer of wearable and fitness tech for The Verge, joined host Mike Rogers to discuss the iOS bug, these questions and the privacy we give up for the sake of convenience with our technology.
“The actual expectation is you delete something, it goes into your recycle bin and that’s done. But that’s actually not how deleting files really works… and it hasn’t for a long time,” she explained.
Listen to Song’s full interview with “Something Offbeat” here.
Each week, “Something Offbeat” takes a deeper look at an unusual headline. If you have suggestions for stories the podcast should cover, send them to us at somethingoffbeat@audacy.com.