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An Open Letter Against Apple's Privacy-Invasive Content Scanning Technology

appleprivacyletter.com

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Re: An Open Letter Against Apple's Privacy-Invasive Content Scanning Technology

#351

Post by echelon »

websites2023 wrote: post #313

It’s astounding how many very smart people are getting this wrong. Perhaps I missed it, but does anywhere on this letter mention that that both of these features are optional? CSAM depends on using iCloud Photos. Don’t rent someone else’s computer if you don’t want them to decide what you can put on it. Content filter for iMessages is for kids accounts only, and can be turned off. Or, even better: skip iMessages for…

Then why do the "CSAM" perceptual hashes live on the device and the checks themselves run on the device? Those hashes could be anything. Your phone is turning into a snitch against you, and the targeted content might be CCP Winnie the Pooh memes or content the people in charge do not like.

We are not getting this wrong. Apple is taking an egregious step to satisfy the CCP and FBI.

Future US politicians could easily be blackmailed by the non-illegal content on their phones. This is a jeopardy to our democracy.

The only reason this was announced yesterday is because it was leaked on Twitter and to the press. Apple is in damage control mode.

This isn't about protecting children. It's about control.

Stop defending Apple.

Re: An Open Letter Against Apple's Privacy-Invasive Content Scanning Technology

#352

Post by Symmetry »

Apparently "It will also scan messages sent using Apple’s iMessage service for text and photos that are inappropriate for minors."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/08/05/apple-c...

That seems even worse. In the US we have this terrible situation where it might be perfectly legal for two 17 year olds or a 17 and an 18 year old to have sex with each other but if they sext then they're engaging in child pornography which is a huge federal crime. But it hasn't been a problem until now because it's very hard to enforce. But it looks like Apple is now going to take part in enforcing that law. It'll be tattling to the parents rather than law enforcement but I still think that's terrible.

Re: An Open Letter Against Apple's Privacy-Invasive Content Scanning Technology

#353

Post by Clubber »

zibzab wrote: post #46
jackvezkovic wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There can always be leaks, anonymous sources that confirm something is still ongoing, despite what was publicly announced. Brand image is important.

Are you sure? Here is a true story for you: Company X claimed users voice commands never left their devices. Then someone leaked recordings of people having sex, commiting crimes, etc recorded from X devices. This was brought up by media. For every concerned user there were ten apologist trying to justify this behaviour and a week later everyone forgot this ever happened.

Post a link so everyone can remember. If it's something you care about, you need to keep reminding people. I'll post stuff about police brutality on threads that are relevant. It helps remind everyone that they are susceptible to the whims of any rogue policeman at any given time, regardless of social status. Most likely with no recourse.

Re: An Open Letter Against Apple's Privacy-Invasive Content Scanning Technology

#354

Post by fragileone »

chopin wrote: post #273
fragileone wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Laptop: Framework Laptop Phone: Pixel with GrapheneOS or CalyxOS. In the future a Linux phone when the software improves.

> Phone: Pixel with GrapheneOS or CalyxOS I've seen this recommendation very often lately. As I am shopping for a new phone: Why is it that hardware directly from Google is recommended for putting another OS onto it (I've seen recommendations for LineageOS as well). What makes it better than any stock phone supported by LineageOS?

See the GrapheneOS or CalyxOS websites for more details, they are significantly hardened for security compared to LineageOS.

Currently those two projects only support Pixels, mainly because they're all bootloader unlockable. If these projects had as many volunteers as LOS then more devices could be officially supported.

LOS on a supported Android phone is still a better option than a stock Android or iPhone at least.

Re: An Open Letter Against Apple's Privacy-Invasive Content Scanning Technology

#355

Post by belter »

barkerja wrote: post #248
bambax wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a) They scan photos for nudity using a NN if the participants are children and in a family (the account grouping), giving children warnings and information if they send or receive such material. A+++ thumbs up. Leave my kids alone. If they want to share photos of themselves naked, it's none of anyone's business except them and maybe me (maybe), certainly not a huge American corporation. Neither me or my kids have i…

Hopefully this is another configurable option that falls under the already very extensive family screen time feature. I understand where you're coming from and respect your position, but I fall on the opposite side. This is something I do want for my kid.

You want Apple employees going trough naked photos of your kid and deciding if its child porn or not because the algo flagged it? Because that is what this means.

Re: An Open Letter Against Apple's Privacy-Invasive Content Scanning Technology

#358

Post by wayneftw »

jazzyjackson wrote: post #340
wayneftw wrote: post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I guess the only pushback is that apple has decided to do it on-device. This is exactly what my problem is. They are using my CPU, battery time and network bandwidth to do this when they should be using their own resources. I know I can turn off iCloud but I am paying for that and we already have an agreement in place. Honestly, it's the only concrete thing to complain about. Every other complaint is based on a wha…

Consider it’s not very interesting to argue with someone who is set in their ways, and the lack of counter argument is a lack of interest, not a superiority of viewpoint. Anyway I agree with you, and have been curious what the neural net hardware on the new iPhone will be used for. Turns out it’s for checking my photo library for child abuse, how futuristic!

> Consider it’s not very interesting to argue with someone who is set in their ways, and the lack of counter argument is a lack of interest, not a superiority of viewpoint.

I have yet to hear a good counter argument though. If I had heard one, I would have changed my mind. So, I don't think I'm set in my ways. (I actually change my mind often when presented with new evidence!)

I will always consider downvotes without argumentation to be a lazy way of disagreeing and the people who do that I think are set in their ways. Until I hear otherwise, I will continue to consider my argument as superior.

Does anyone really change their mind until they hear a counter to what they already think? I don't think so... I already argued with myself and came up with my opinion on this, so really - I need external arguments to change my mind just like everyone else.

Re: An Open Letter Against Apple's Privacy-Invasive Content Scanning Technology

#359

Post by willseth »

epanchin wrote: post #333
websites2023 wrote: post #313

It’s astounding how many very smart people are getting this wrong. Perhaps I missed it, but does anywhere on this letter mention that that both of these features are optional? CSAM depends on using iCloud Photos. Don’t rent someone else’s computer if you don’t want them to decide what you can put on it. Content filter for iMessages is for kids accounts only, and can be turned off. Or, even better: skip iMessages for…

The new system is overkill for iCloud, which Apple already scans. The obvious conclusion is Apple will start to scan photos kept on device, even where iCloud is not used. Very smart people are not getting this wrong.

Apple doesn't "scan" iCloud. Not sure what you're talking about. Generally everything in iCloud is E2E encrypted, with the exception of iCloud Backups, where Apple holds onto a decryption key and will use it to comply with subpoenas. But nothing is "scanned," and if you don't use iCloud backup, Apple can't see your data.

Re: An Open Letter Against Apple's Privacy-Invasive Content Scanning Technology

#360

Post by Clubber »

garmaine wrote: post #65
donkeyd wrote: post #4

I recently listened to a Darknet Diaries episode on messaging app Kik. This app is apparently being used by many people to trade child pornography. In this episode, there was some criticism expressed on how Kik doesn't scan all the images on their platform for child pornography. I would really like to hear from people who sign this open letter, how they think about this. Should the internet be a free for all place wi…

I don't want to be arrested by the FBI and my life ruined because my daughter, who is 6 and doesn't know any better, takes a selfie with my phone while she happens to be undressed/changing clothes and the photo automatically syncs to the cloud.

Chances are your daughter would be arrested or at least investigated for having child pornography.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/dec/30/thousands-of...

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