Apple had said it had invented a tool which was designed to detect whether child sexual abuse images had been uploaded to the iCloud by users. But critics claimed the software, called neuralMatch, was an invasion of privacy and was prone to error.

After an avalanche of criticism from privacy groups, Apple has backed down and delayed plans to introduce a “child safety feature” on iPhones.

Last month Apple said a tool would check the iPhones and personal computers of customers in the United States to flag up images popular with paedophiles.

Apple, which had planned to roll out the feature for iPhones, iPads, and Macs later this year, had insisted the software would not have flagged up innocent images such as holiday snaps of young children in swimming costumes.