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After criticism, Apple to only seek abuse images flagged in multiple nations

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Re: After criticism, Apple to only seek abuse images flagged in multiple nations

#151

Post by beebmam »

cletus wrote: post #28

And... Apple misses the point of the criticism completely. This problem is the capability, not what it's used for. Any such capability will be abused by new use cases be it terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking or whatever. Plus there will inevitably be unauthorized access. The only way to prevent all this is for the system not to exist. I don't buy into theories that Apple is being pressured or coerced on a…

People need to stop buying Apple devices, immediately. They do not give a shit about us.

Re: After criticism, Apple to only seek abuse images flagged in multiple nations

#152

Post by gigel82 »

concinds wrote: post #40

These stories have been top of HN for more than a week, indicating fascination. Yet non-technical mainstream articles make the bulk of it, and Apple's just released detailed (and convincing) threat report PDF is getting buried. An unfortunate recipe that'll solidify misunderstandings and keep the conversation much more emotional than it should be. Security Threat Model Review of the Apple Child Safety Features [pdf]…

They can publish the dev design doc, the test plan, even the fricking source code, that doesn't change the basic fact which is local device scanning.

There is no misunderstanding of that fact by anyone with sufficient technical know-how. There is also no misunderstanding of what comes next once this Pandora box is opened.

Re: After criticism, Apple to only seek abuse images flagged in multiple nations

#153

Post by frickinLasers »

majormajor wrote: post #117
frickinLasers wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Build this. Don't explain why" is not chess. It would be a perfectly logical order from the power structures Snowden exposed. eta: It makes way more sense to me than Apple actually thinking this was a good idea.

"Don't tell anyone" seems like it would be step 3 of the instructions there.

That would arouse suspicion as soon as someone (perhaps someone inside the company) figured out what was going on. Here, a key person introduces the idea, says it's "for the children," and people are baffled but the masses will forget about it, even come to accept the logic, soon enough.

Re: After criticism, Apple to only seek abuse images flagged in multiple nations

#155

Post by frickinLasers »

heavyset_go wrote: post #129
frickinLasers wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Build this. Don't explain why" is not chess. It would be a perfectly logical order from the power structures Snowden exposed. eta: It makes way more sense to me than Apple actually thinking this was a good idea.

> It would be a perfectly logical order from the power structures Snowden exposed. Snowden exposed that Apple was actively part[1] of the PRISM data collection and surveillance program targeting Americans. Apple also voluntarily gives up customer's data when requested by the US government for about 120,000 individuals a year[2]. They also hand over the data for over 31,000 users/accounts in response to FISA and NSL r…

They do seem proud, but one of these things makes less sense than the others, given Apple's prior reasoning.

We don't know what goes on in the secret courts these days but we have been assured watchdogs are in place and certain programs are no longer in use [1]. This is all speculation based on past behavior, but I assume new reasoning has been constructed that passes watchdog's interpretation of the law but requires new hoops for three-letter agencies to jump through to get the mountains of data they so yearn for.

[1] https://reason.com/2015/11/29/the-nsa-will-stop-collecting-y...

Now it kind of sounds like I'm playing 5D chess, but since we don't know what takes place under secret Executive Orders...

Re: After criticism, Apple to only seek abuse images flagged in multiple nations

#156

Post by pembrook »

Jxl180 wrote: post #135
pembrook wrote: post #72

This is by far the biggest misstep of Tim Cook’s tenure at Apple thus far. If they don’t kill this program soon, it’s going to overshadow the entire upcoming iPhone event, and will follow Apple around like a dark cloud for years. I can see the headlines now: “New iPhone launches amid massive new privacy concerns.” Anytime someone praises Apple for privacy, anywhere on the internet, there will be a tidal wave of peopl…

If they kill the program, headlines will read: “Apple refuses to protect sexually abused children” or “Apple sides with protecting child pornographers.” I anecdotally see no backlash outside of HN and the tech/libertarian-focused parts of Reddit. To the casual iPhone buyer making up their billions in revenue, turning back on the program wouldn’t be good optics. Obviously my statement is purely conjecture, I’ll admit…

You’re not seeing the backlash yet because normies don’t pay attention to Apple outside of the September iPhone event (when coverage breaks into the mainstream for a few days).

Look at Google trends data for the search term “Apple.” It spikes every September by like 70% for a week.

I can guarantee you, every average joe learning about the new iPhone from mainstream media, is going to hear a sound byte about this fiasco as well.

I’ll be surprised if this program isn’t dead within 2 months.

Re: After criticism, Apple to only seek abuse images flagged in multiple nations

#158

Post by aussieguy1234 »

Since hearing about this whole affair, one potential scenario popped up in my mind...

Currently, bad actors are randomly sharing illegal content in an unsolicited way to people who did not ask for it (1).

Let's imagine this happens to you. Suddenly, you have illegal content on your device you didn't ask for.

Maybe you are busy when the message with the content is received and you don't even know about it, or you think it's random spam from someone you don't know and just ignore it.

Then, the content scanner picks it up and notifys authorities.

What will happen in this scenario?

(1) https://www.news4jax.com/news/2018/02/05/beware-child-porn-m...

Re: After criticism, Apple to only seek abuse images flagged in multiple nations

#159

Post by pembrook »

jollybean wrote: post #128
pembrook wrote: post #72

This is by far the biggest misstep of Tim Cook’s tenure at Apple thus far. If they don’t kill this program soon, it’s going to overshadow the entire upcoming iPhone event, and will follow Apple around like a dark cloud for years. I can see the headlines now: “New iPhone launches amid massive new privacy concerns.” Anytime someone praises Apple for privacy, anywhere on the internet, there will be a tidal wave of peopl…

This I think is a bit of HN myopia. I've talked around and nobody I know is even aware of this, when I brought it up, they didn't care about the issue. It's not news in the commons, it's not on CNN, Fox or MSNBC right now as a headline. It's one of those tertiary concerns that frustrates some groups, but most people are not aware and would only marginally maligned, and a good 2/3 of people really don't care. I suspec…

Just wait until the September event. Apple’s media attention quadruples during that time.

“Apple creates authoritarian government wet dream” will be the main narrative coming out of the iPhone event. Not the new phone. And investors will not be happy.

Re: After criticism, Apple to only seek abuse images flagged in multiple nations

#160

Post by d3nj4l »

musha68k wrote: post #76
finolex1 wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, I don't think this has been anything more than a small blip to Apple's reputation. If I were not on Hackernews (like 99+% of Apple users), I would have either not heard or given second thought to this move.

It’s on Reuters and many other news outlets. The press are still doing their job for the moment at least.

Even the Apple fanatics on MacRumors as pissed. These are the people who’d steadfastly defend apple against anything.
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