diff --git a/.swiftlint.yml b/.swiftlint.yml
index 519c6e3ae..fae5d675c 100644
--- a/.swiftlint.yml
+++ b/.swiftlint.yml
@@ -15,9 +15,13 @@ disabled_rules:
   - trailing_comma
   - opening_brace
 
-line_length: 
+line_length:
   warning: 160
   ignores_comments: true
+  excluded_lines_patterns: [
+    # long deprecation messages
+    \@available(.*/*deprecated.*) 
+  ]
 
 file_length:
   warning: 1000
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5d0dcc78c..8492afc80 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 ## Next
 
+- fix: deprecate `maskPhotoLibraryImages` due to unintended masking issues ([#268](https://github.com/PostHog/posthog-ios/pull/268))
+
 ## 3.15.9 - 2024-11-28
 
 - fix: skip capturing a snapshot during view controller transitions ([#265](https://github.com/PostHog/posthog-ios/pull/265))
diff --git a/PostHog/Replay/PostHogReplayIntegration.swift b/PostHog/Replay/PostHogReplayIntegration.swift
index de028626d..ec1284e08 100644
--- a/PostHog/Replay/PostHogReplayIntegration.swift
+++ b/PostHog/Replay/PostHogReplayIntegration.swift
@@ -406,24 +406,6 @@
             image.imageAsset?.value(forKey: "_containingBundle") != nil
         }
 
-        // Photo library images have a UUID identifier as _assetName (e.g 64EF5A48-2E96-4AB2-A79B-AAB7E9116E3D)
-        // SF symbol and bundle images have the actual symbol name as _assetName (e.g chevron.backward)
-        private func isPhotoLibraryImage(_ image: UIImage) -> Bool {
-            guard config.sessionReplayConfig.maskPhotoLibraryImages else {
-                return false
-            }
-
-            guard let assetName = image.imageAsset?.value(forKey: "_assetName") as? String else {
-                return false
-            }
-
-            if assetName.isEmpty { return false }
-            if image.isSymbolImage { return false }
-            if isAssetsImage(image) { return false }
-
-            return true
-        }
-
         private func isAnyInputSensitive(_ view: UIView) -> Bool {
             isTextInputSensitive(view) || config.sessionReplayConfig.maskAllImages
         }
@@ -481,13 +463,17 @@
                 return true
             }
 
-            if config.sessionReplayConfig.maskAllImages {
-                // asset images are probably not sensitive
-                return !isAssetsImage(image)
+            // asset images are probably not sensitive
+            if isAssetsImage(image) {
+                return false
+            }
+
+            // symbols are probably not sensitive
+            if image.isSymbolImage {
+                return false
             }
 
-            // try to detect user photo images
-            return isPhotoLibraryImage(image)
+            return config.sessionReplayConfig.maskAllImages
         }
 
         private func toWireframe(_ view: UIView) -> RRWireframe? {
diff --git a/PostHog/Replay/PostHogSessionReplayConfig.swift b/PostHog/Replay/PostHogSessionReplayConfig.swift
index b9b29f92a..ce1ac073f 100644
--- a/PostHog/Replay/PostHogSessionReplayConfig.swift
+++ b/PostHog/Replay/PostHogSessionReplayConfig.swift
@@ -26,8 +26,11 @@
 
         /// Enable masking of images that likely originated from user's photo library
         /// Experimental support (UIKit only)
-        /// Default: true
-        @objc public var maskPhotoLibraryImages: Bool = true
+        /// Default: false
+        ///
+        /// - Note: Deprecated
+        @available(*, deprecated, message: "This property has no effect and will be removed in the next major release. To learn how to manually mask user photos please see our Privacy controls documentation: https://posthog.com/docs/session-replay/privacy?tab=iOS")
+        @objc public var maskPhotoLibraryImages: Bool = false
 
         /// Enable capturing network telemetry
         /// Experimental support