In a single step, Apple has eliminated one of the touted key differentiators between their offerings and Android: Security/Privacy. I wonder what that loss of consumer goodwill will cost them…
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Privacy Whistleblower Edward Snowden and EFF Slam Apple's Plans to Scan Messages and iCloud Images
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In my opinion, people should delete their iCloud backups and then turn off iCloud backup. Keep your backup encrypted locally using a program like Cryptomator. You can also create a Cryptomator folder in iCloud and manually copy your local backups to said folder whereby they will be safe from Apple and law enforcement.
If all you do is turn off iCloud Photo in response to this new policy of Apple and you keep using iCloud backup, Apple has access to your files including your messages. iMessages isn't truly end to end encrypted while iCloud backup is turned on, because Apple creates a decryption key with the backup thus allowing them and law enforcement access to your data. You should also turn off iMessage in the Cloud, if you don't Apple (or anyone else) to have access to your messages.
edited to add: Use iMazing to backup your phone with all your messages. You can also export them and print them out when needed.
imazing.com
If all you do is turn off iCloud Photo in response to this new policy of Apple and you keep using iCloud backup, Apple has access to your files including your messages. iMessages isn't truly end to end encrypted while iCloud backup is turned on, because Apple creates a decryption key with the backup thus allowing them and law enforcement access to your data. You should also turn off iMessage in the Cloud, if you don't Apple (or anyone else) to have access to your messages.
edited to add: Use iMazing to backup your phone with all your messages. You can also export them and print them out when needed.
iMazing | iPhone, iPad & iPod Manager for Mac & PC
iMazing lets you transfer music, files, messages, apps and more from any iPhone, iPad, or iPod to a computer, Mac or PC. Manage and backup your iOS device simply without iTunes. (was DiskAid)
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Yep. But you don't even need to use 3rd party encryption tools. You can simply set up your phone to make encrypted backups via USB in Finder (or iTunes on older MacOS versions and Windows). The backups are encrypted on the phone before they are transferred.
Of course, if they start scanning more files directly on the device in the future, it will negate much of the security gained ...
Difficult to understand what you mean. You are that protective of photos of food and pets?
Such as? Pets and food got you that worries or are you trying to protect stuff that shouldn’t be in photo form anyways?
First logical response I’ve seen to this. I’m messages, I can see there being private things said, health conditions, banking info. I get that. But pictures? Really?
Maybe people have photos beyond the benign?
Maybe they have an expectation of *full* privacy of what's on their own device?
Maybe all that matters is that Apple has no business building in a way for your device to "scan your content against databases".
I'm sure Apple has the best intentions with this.
But all this will do is push the real CSAM actors to use other methods of saving and distributing their illegal photos... methods that are much less trackable.
Meanwhile... it puts normal honest people on edge worrying about their privacy.
Is the backlash worth it for Apple? Will people leave their platform?
I've already seen tons of threads with titles like "F--- Apple... looking for alternatives"
But all this will do is push the real CSAM actors to use other methods of saving and distributing their illegal photos... methods that are much less trackable.
Meanwhile... it puts normal honest people on edge worrying about their privacy.
Is the backlash worth it for Apple? Will people leave their platform?
I've already seen tons of threads with titles like "F--- Apple... looking for alternatives"
The definition of a "crime" can vary widely and be quite different from a users own definition.
(see oppressive regimes or authoritarian governments)
Really? So then you should cast almost any parent around into jail for taking photos of their kids bathing etc.
Btw: it isn‘t in my country or any country I know
Thank you for so eloquently proving my point
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You trying to compare defecating in public vs child trafficking tells me all I need to know about you.
I don’t need to “see” anything. Going to the bathroom in a public facility designated as such vs using pictures to traffic children are two completely different ball fields. You can’t compare one to the other.
Does that also apply to potential criminals (i.e. all of us)? Or e.g. to gay people in countries where being gay is a crime?
Bending liberties for these reasons does nothing to prevent crime. All you’ve done is put law-abiding people in the crosshairs, restricted individual liberties, and forced child porn traffickers to switch to Android phones.
I think you’re getting distracted by your desire to be right. This article is about flagging CSAM, nothing was talked about same sex consenting age couples. Now you’re just making stuff up to win an argument, you are past the point of continuing a rational dialogue.
I will agree with your first point, but if you have CSAM in your iCloud library, you’ve moved beyond “potential” criminal.
In the last month I upgraded two phones to 12 pro max devices. Honestly, had I known this was going to take place, I would have held out to see if it comes to fruition. Where there is this vast a departure from previous policies/statements, it would seem to me that Apple should be forced to allow full returns without penalty. I now have a device that I can not update should I choose to avoid this 'feature'. Photos are THE major reason that I carry an iPhone and use iCloud. This is a total deal breaker for me. And no, I do not deal in any type of illegal activity other than some missionary activity in some places where there is significant sensitivity that could be abused by unauthorized access to photos in the future should it so used.
Has anyone thought about how photo journalists in the media could potentially be impacted by this when working in countries that have no sense of a 1st amendment/freedom of the press?
There are so many ways that this could go wrong!
Has anyone thought about how photo journalists in the media could potentially be impacted by this when working in countries that have no sense of a 1st amendment/freedom of the press?
There are so many ways that this could go wrong!
Ha! Yep! “Should” is one of those funny words and I shouldn’t have used it. In my mind, in a well governed country, this would be a government responsibility. That said, I don’t think anyone isn’t questioning and scrutinizing the US government. So I’d rather it were neither until the lot of us hash our government out. If forced to choose right now I’d still put the responsibility in government hands.
I think you're focusing solely too much on the short term / narrow picture -- which is why you're feeling a lack of rational dialogue.
The article is discussing CSAM, but most people (here and elsewhere) are pointing at the the big elephant / larger picture of what can happen as a result of CSAM.
You know what also “can” happen? I could win the lottery. I could be hit by a train.
I’m commenting on the article, not on the what-ifs. The article discusses CSAM.
Wow. Non-sequitur much? Unless your winning the lottery will enable and encourage you to trade in child porn and sex trafficking, then it has no bearing on the topic. The consideration of how the article's discussed use of technology could easily be abused by being used in ways not "intended" is 100% pertinent to the topic at hand. And, it is the very reason that individuals and technology security companies are very concerned with the move!
