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Apple urged to drop plans to scan iMessages, images for sex abuse

aljazeera.com

21–30 of 129 posts

Re: Apple urged to drop plans to scan iMessages, images for sex abuse

#21
post #3

Siri a few years into the future: Dave I noticed that when you sent your last tex message my AI determined with a 99% probability that you were driving. I’ll be notifying the local authorities and you will be receiving a citation for that. Please note that after the citation has been paid and you have been through rehabilitation they send me an unlock code so I can reenable your sms account. Or: Hi Dave i’ve been not…

- Open the pod bay doors, Siri.

- I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.

Re: Apple urged to drop plans to scan iMessages, images for sex abuse

#23
Im not sure if im missing something here, but from what I understand, what Apple is proposing is an enormous privacy boon that seems to be completely misunderstood.

All cloud providers are required to, and do, make these scans.

The proposal provides a way for them to comply with that requirement, but at the same time, allows them to completely lock themselves out of being able to decrypt your data in the cloud, except in this specific case, secured and controlled by your device.

This means they couldn't comply with a nation states demand to secretly decrypt your data, even if they were legally compelled too, unless they change how the cryptography at play here works.

Which I expect, would not go unnoticed.

Am I missing something?

Re: Apple urged to drop plans to scan iMessages, images for sex abuse

#24
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is it not still E2EE?

If a copy of your messages (even if it is only low resolution jpgs) get auto forwarded to Apple/FBI under certain circumstances it is not securely E2E encrypted

Apple's investigation code executes on the device, which allows them to preserve their definition of end-to-end as long as you plug your ears and ignore where the 'ends' are.

Re: Apple urged to drop plans to scan iMessages, images for sex abuse

#25
post #17

Is aljazeera.com the only outlet willing to cover this aspect of Apple's decision? It seems like the US media is effectively ignoring the complaints.

Seems so, our corporate media is largely comprised of cowards and pay-for-play.

Most media is deeply unprofitable, and it compensates for this by taking payment for ads disguised as organic content (have first hand experience with this that has honestly made me cynical).

Most media won’t bite the hand that literally feeds them.

Re: Apple urged to drop plans to scan iMessages, images for sex abuse

#26
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If a copy of your messages (even if it is only low resolution jpgs) get auto forwarded to Apple/FBI under certain circumstances it is not securely E2E encrypted

Apple's investigation code executes on the device, which allows them to preserve their definition of end-to-end as long as you plug your ears and ignore where the 'ends' are.

I’m not interested in Apple’s newspeak definition of “E2EE” (where they are between the ends) or “Privacy” (terms and restrictions may apply).

I want the real thing.

Re: Apple urged to drop plans to scan iMessages, images for sex abuse

#27
post #10

I want to ignore most of this article to complain about an inaccuracy that keeps coming up. > More broadly, they said the change will break end-to-end encryption for iMessage, which Apple has staunchly defended in other contexts. But... it wouldn't. The iMessage feature doesn't expose the contents of your message to anyone else under any circumstance. If you're a child under 13 and your parents have opted in to this…

> But... it wouldn't. The iMessage feature doesn't expose the contents of your message to anyone else under any circumstance.

It does if it contains the flagged content.

When we say end-to-end, we mean that even Apple cannot know what is on the wire which won't be the case anymore.

Re: Apple urged to drop plans to scan iMessages, images for sex abuse

#29
So, what parts of my phone are actually being scanned by this system? It seems like it's rummaging through any images that are touch iCloud, which would include:

- iMessage - WhatsApp - Camera - Matrix (?) - Any other application that you give 'photo' permission to?

Re: Apple urged to drop plans to scan iMessages, images for sex abuse

#30

Pretty clear cut for me: iMessage either offers robust end-to-end encryption , or it doesn’t. (Intentional backdoors place it in the latter ofcourse). I want true end to end enc.

> I want true end to end enc.

People who say things like this rarely also want the hassle that comes with it. Key exchanges, re-keying: all a big PITA. But iMessage (and WhatsApp) do key exchanges facilitated by a trusted broker. If you didn't trust the broker, you would have to do more work when making an initial exchange with a peer and more work if they lost their phone/keys.

iMessage has always been a compromise with subtle rough edges. But we trusted Apple because they talked about privacy and made it clear that their business model meant that we should trust them more than competitors. But now, precisely because of how good and effective they secured their devices -- they fear regulation and thought that they could further compromise things and people would go along with it.

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