Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Karma*Police

macrumors 68030
Jul 15, 2012
2,521
2,866
Even if well intended a general search for child porn is no reason to violate my privacy or any user's on his device. This will be a good example to see how serious Apple finally is about privacy.
History is littered with well intended ideas that did far more harm than good, and oftentimes, hurt the very people they were intended to help.
 
  • Like
Reactions: snek

neliason

macrumors 6502a
Oct 1, 2015
501
1,242
I want strong consumer data protection. But,

1. Cook might think Apple would benefit from “privacy” legislation. Competitors, especially those who rely on selling consumer data, may have to make costly changes. So it might not be about privacy but disadvantaging competition.

2. Any privacy legislation will have all sorts of loopholes.

3. Any privacy legislation likely won’t be enforced or enforceable. Sure, maybe the Justice Department will occasionally get a judgment resulting in a fine, but the fine will be paid to the government, not to the harmed consumers.

4. Passing something called privacy legislation placates people and causes them to drop their guard. HIPPA is a good example. Hospitals may fire the occasional nurse for accessing records he shouldn’t, but the executives freely sell your data. And the government can get access it whenever it wants. Your family, friends, and clergy can’t find out what room you are in at the hospital, yet people think HIPPA protects them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: snek

v3rlon

macrumors 6502a
Sep 19, 2014
889
709
Earth (usually)
"Privacy is a fundamental right and we build it into all our products and services at Apple. You should be in control of your data — not the highest bidder."

Is this the same Tim Cook who's running Apple and has taken billions from Google to be the default search engine because Google was the highest bidder? 🤣
Well, it does take almost a full minute to change your search engine, and this makes it hard for Alphabet to claim Apple doesn’t let them play.

If YOU care about privacy, YOU can change it. This is unlike a large number of other things where the developers try to conceal what they are tracking and fight/sue to keep you from being able to protect yourself.
 

I7guy

macrumors Nehalem
Nov 30, 2013
34,311
24,047
Gotta be in it to win it
"Privacy is a fundamental right and we build it into all our products and services at Apple. You should be in control of your data — not the highest bidder."

Is this the same Tim Cook who's running Apple and has taken billions from Google to be the default search engine because Google was the highest bidder? 🤣
Said this before, does the internet change if apples $0 from google? $1? $8B dollars?
 

Naraxus

macrumors 68020
Oct 13, 2016
2,104
8,545
Said this before, does the internet change if apples $0 from google? $1? $8B dollars?
Does it change? I don't believe it does. I think it's more a perception problem. Apple likes to champion itself as a "Privacy First" company and regularly points out the differences between themselves and others.

A frequent target of that is Google. Google has indeed had many privacy blunders and therein lies the problem.

It makes it look like Apple is talking the talk but not walking the walk. Castigating them on one hand for their privacy blunders but gladly taking their money to be the default search engine when there are others out there with a more proven track record (Duck Duck Go).
 

I7guy

macrumors Nehalem
Nov 30, 2013
34,311
24,047
Gotta be in it to win it
Does it change? I don't believe it does. I think it's more a perception problem. Apple likes to champion itself as a "Privacy First" company and regularly points out the differences between themselves and others.

A frequent target of that is Google. Google has indeed had many privacy blunders and therein lies the problem.

It makes it look like Apple is talking the talk but not walking the walk. Castigating them on one hand for their privacy blunders but gladly taking their money to be the default search engine when there are others out there with a more proven track record (Duck Duck Go).
Got it, however I disagree. I don’t see any perception issue whatsoever. People can type in googles’ web address into the address bar, and can change their default search engine. Google is not the only browser that can be used on iOS.

That apple castigates google is fair game.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Naraxus

I7guy

macrumors Nehalem
Nov 30, 2013
34,311
24,047
Gotta be in it to win it
  • Haha
Reactions: nvmls

catportal

macrumors regular
Aug 11, 2016
137
362
maybe you could read this article you seem to so wrong and yet so adamant about it (isn't that the case for most who are wrong?). https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202303
If you have trouble typing a link, here is an excerpt:

End-to-end encryption​

For additional privacy and security, many Apple services use end-to-end encryption, which encrypts your information using keys derived from your devices and your device passcode, which only you know. This means that only you can decrypt and access your information, and only on trusted devices where you’re signed in with your Apple ID. No one else, not even Apple, can access your end-to-end encrypted data. End-to-end encryption requires two-factor authentication for your Apple ID and a passcode set on your devices. Some features using end-to-end encryption may require up-to-date software.

Not sure where your info comes from (or doesn't), but fact checks work

maybe you can also learn to read the difference between device and icloud... icloud is not end to end encrypted, it can be read by apple

Well, sorta, sorta not.


And in those cases where iCloud is not E2E encrypted does the buzzword "end to end" actually mean anything there. If I'm storing data on Apple's servers does the concept of E2E even make sense? If I encrypt something on my device, store it there, and then decrypt it with Apple never getting the keys I guess that's end to end because Apple can't see it, right?
it's not sorta, it's just not end to end encrypted
if you back up "notes" to icloud, apple can read them
if it was end to end encrypted they wouldn't be able to read them
pretty simple
 

Naraxus

macrumors 68020
Oct 13, 2016
2,104
8,545
That apple castigates google is fair game.
Oh absolutely it's fair game and they should castigate them & especially Facebook. As much as I may criticize Apple they're still eons ahead of both of them and are a company I do trust with my data despite a blip here or there
 
  • Like
Reactions: I7guy

jdoyle

macrumors 6502
Jul 29, 2004
301
509
Why is he wearing a suit? Jobs must be spinning in his grave. He looks like a stiff from IBM!!!!!
 
  • Haha
Reactions: nvmls

VulchR

macrumors 68040
Jun 8, 2009
3,401
14,286
Scotland
Until Apple formally and publicly kills the hare-brained scheme to scan local devices for CSAM, Cook's letter just sounds like crass hypocrisy. Shame on him, and shame on Apple.

And for those of you who point out that I can vote with my wallet. I was ready to update my phone, iPad and laptop at the end of the COVID lockdown because I had money saved up for that purpose. Regrettably, Apple has been silent on the issue so I have not, and will not, purchase any Apple product until they kill the Orwellian CSAM system. I still have those savings, though, and I have been holding out in the hope that Apple will see reason. I can probably last until the end of summer, but after that it looks like LINUX in my future.
 

FindingAvalon

macrumors regular
Apr 30, 2021
222
228
People on here:
“Waaa waaa waaa Apple doesn’t completely end to end encrypt all data on iCloud.”

Apple comes up with a solution with CSAM.

“Waaaa waaa waaa, my privacy is being invaded.”
 

wigby

macrumors 68030
Jun 7, 2007
2,774
2,761
No, I don't want Apple to operate in countries against their local laws, but I DO want them to (metaphorically) put up or shut up about privacy.

Google took the IMO ethical solution to stop operating in China in 2010 because it wouldn't follow Chinese internet "privacy" law. Apple, nope! Apple made a special China-only *cough* compromised iCloud instead
Do you realize that every country (including the U.S.) have laws on the books that violate their own citizens' privacy? And every country has a slightly different interpretation of individual and data privacy. Many countries are requiring iCloud data to be restricted within their own borders, not just China. You're asking for an ideal world that will never exist. Apple chooses to operate in as many territories as they legally can.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FindingAvalon

VulchR

macrumors 68040
Jun 8, 2009
3,401
14,286
Scotland
Not at all. Implementing that would allow them to enable full end to end for all iCloud data.
Oh my.

What is the point of encryption if it does not guarantee privacy? Some human can look at your pictures without warning, notification, judicial review, a warrant or redress because of false positives from an untested easily defeated machine alogorithm, but, hey, everything is encrypted.
 

FindingAvalon

macrumors regular
Apr 30, 2021
222
228
Oh my.

What is the point of encryption if it does not guarantee privacy? Some human can look at your pictures without warning, notification, judicial review, a warrant or redress because of false positives from an untested easily defeated machine alogorithm, but, hey, everything is encrypted.
And you know it’s “untested and easily defeated”, how?
 

AtomicDusk

macrumors regular
Jul 24, 2014
196
538
San Diego
If this could do anything to help enact change and help our polititians create laws that codify online protections, then wonderful. So long as our government also follows the laws they create...
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.