GoKawiilApple reverses plan to move Hide My Email addresses to new domain
Apple has scrapped a June proposal to shift new Hide My Email addresses from the standard @icloud.com domain to a separate @private.icloud.com domain. The change would have let websites instantly identify and potentially block masked addresses, undermining the privacy tool's core purpose. Apple confirmed the reversal in a developer note, though it gave no public explanation, while reports point to internal objections from its own Hide My Email team and user backlash.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Hide My Email only works if masked addresses are indistinguishable from real ones, so a separate domain would have handed websites an easy way to flag and reject privacy-conscious users at signup. The episode shows how a seemingly minor technical tweak can quietly erode a privacy feature's effectiveness, and highlights the value internet companies place on being able to tie accounts to real identities. It also follows an earlier bug this year that exposed real addresses behind the masking service, adding to scrutiny of how well Apple safeguards this feature.
- Apple canceled plans to move new Hide My Email addresses to a distinct @private.icloud.com domain.
- The change would have let sites detect and block masked addresses, weakening the feature's privacy value.
- Sign in with Apple addresses will still shift to the new domain later this year, since that use case poses no privacy risk.
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Published there as: “Apple decides undermining its own email privacy feature was a bad idea after all”
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