Apple today released iPadOS and iOS 17.5.1 that addresses the previously reported bug where some users were seeing deleted photos resurfaced. Apparently this was all the result of database corruption on device.

It’s good that Apple reacted so quickly, but this is one of those bugs that’s a bit unsettling. We trust our software to do what it says on the tin, but if it doesn’t, it potentially puts our data at risk.

Edit 05/24/2024 – Apple released an updated statement to 9to5Mac clarifying that the restored photos were never synced to iCloud.