Apple's latest effort to combat the iPhone parts black market with a new iOS 18 feature. Credit: Lorenzo Di Cola / NurPhoto / Getty Images

Apple is taking a bold step to crack down on the thriving black market for stolen iPhone components with a novel feature in its upcoming iOS 18 update.

As reported by Beta Profiles, a trusted source for Apple beta software information, the iOS 18 update will introduce an innovative feature called Activation Lock for valuable iPhone parts.

For those unfamiliar, Activation Lock is an existing anti-theft feature within Apple's Find My app. If your iPhone is stolen, you can remotely activate Activation Lock to prevent it from being used. However, this has led to stolen iPhones being disassembled for valuable components like batteries, cameras, and sensors, which are then sold on the black market.

Now, with the iOS 18 Release Candidate (RC), Activation Lock will extend to iPhone components. According to Apple's announcement in April, here's how it works: "If a device under repair detects that a supported part was obtained from another device with Activation Lock or Lost Mode enabled, calibration capabilities for that part will be restricted." Apple will request the user's account information to verify the ownership of the part.

This move has sparked controversy, with some critics arguing that rendering parts useless will contribute to electronic waste. Right to Repair advocates have also expressed concerns that it might hinder the secondhand and refurbishing market. As one user pointed out, "Apple trying to kill the second-hand parts market. Now no repair shop is going to buy parts because they won’t have any way to know if it is ‘unlocked.'" Others have questioned how many people will bother to 'unlock' their battery before trade-in or disposal.

For more information on Apple's efforts to boost device security, visit https://computerstechnicians.com.