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This is shaping up to be a monumental mistake for Apple, which by now should result in scrapping all client-side scanning.

If not, it will be an interesting test of how many users Apple will lose over this.

Those Apple devices i might upgrade will now be put on hold, it is simply unacceptable what Apple is doing.



>If not, it will be an interesting test of how many users Apple will lose over this.

Lose.. to whom? PinePhone? Not trying to be flippant, but... there is no longer any option for the common user.

No, my elderly mother is not going to download and flash a custom de-googled ROM for her OnePlus 9 Pro. Pure fantasy that Apple will lose users because of this. This is a nonstory to everyone who lives and works east of Tahoe.


As far as I know Android devices do not implement the scheme that Apple is considering.

But you're right that some users absolutely do not care (or can only use Apple devices), they will now give up their right to privacy.

But you don't have to look that far to see that a lot of users disagree with what Apple is doing here.


>As far as I know Android devices do not implement the scheme that Apple is considering.

No, instead they just scan everything you upload to their service: https://support.google.com/transparencyreport/answer/1033093...


Which is at least transparent and importantly: it leaves the user with a choice of not using Google services, e.g. Gmail, Drive and Backup to name a few.

And scanning for CSAM is certainly commendable, but the whole issue with Apple's implementation is that you lose your privacy on your own device.

That is a step too far.


You can just not use iCloud Photos and the scanning won’t happen.


Even if Apple decides to roll this back they've made it clear to me that I can't afford to be too locked into their ecosystem. With more open platforms you have options if you disagree with decisions made by any one vendor. With Apple you have no other options.


It's interesting how everyone used to be all in favor of Apple's strategy of doing all photo analysis on the device instead of on some remote server, and now it's reversed. Suddenly Google's approach is better?


The advantage of doing analysis on your device was supposed to be that your data never left your device. Now you get the worst of both worlds, with your device doing the analysis but your data leaving anyway.


iCloud photos always left your device.


Nothing changed. The issue is the same for both situations: possible communication with remote servers.

If the scanning here was happening and merely notifying the user, there wouldn't be a problem. Or course, it would be completely useless to catch criminals.




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