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kscherer
Which way is up?
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2021-09-03, 12:06

Here is the reason this is happening:

Apple is preparing to encrypt everything that lands on iCloud, including photos—specifically so that snooping types (including the gubmint) can't just peek in there and poke around (precisely because they do care about your privacy).

The question: That would give pedophiles the opportunity to upload and share all kinds of kiddie-porn with no one being the wiser, and Apple does not want that to happen. So, how to solve the problem while maintaining their legal obligation to report kiddie-porn to the copper-types? (Because Apple also cares about the costs associated with litigation, gubmint fines/arrests, and public outcry over such matters).

The answer: Treat everyone as a potential pedophile, scan all of their images before they get encrypted, apply a hash to said images, and then encrypt and upload those photos to iCloud with the *unencrypted* hash hanging out of the image like a big, red flag. Once images are on iCloud, have some software scan the hashes for anything pedo-y-ish and compare them to a known database, and notify the goons if something looks off.

Apple is not looking at our images, just the hashes (but, since the hashes are unencrypted, neither, actually, is the image ). The new problem: Hashes can be applied to other things at the whim of the gubmint, and suddenly you "ain't care 'bout m' prawvasee" folks might find yourselves at the business end of the goons because you held up the wrong sign at the wrong rally.

This is dangerous ground, and it sets a dangerous precedent. Whether or not you have anything to hide, things you take for granted may suddenly—and without warning—be hide-worthy, and you will no longer be able to hide them. It's BAD!

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