> they wouldn’t and couldn’t care any less what the data on their servers
Except they're legally forced to care. Thats why this is happening at all. They have a legal obligation to care, encryption be damned. They chose to preserve encryption instead of preserve trust.
No, they are not. I linked to the text of the law itself [1]. In particular note the section titled "protection of privacy" that states:
(f) Protection of Privacy.
—Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a provider to—
(1) monitor any user, subscriber, or customer of that provider;
(2) monitor the content of any communication of any person described in paragraph (1); or
(3) affirmatively search, screen, or scan for facts or circumstances described in sections (a) and (b).
they really don't though. no one can force them to scan a user for anything, however if they do scan and spot CP then obviously they have a duty to report it. Just like you have a duty to report child abuse if you're a teacher. No scans, no CP, no issues. This has been forced on them by the government by some means I think, either the US government or the CCP.
Except they're legally forced to care. Thats why this is happening at all. They have a legal obligation to care, encryption be damned. They chose to preserve encryption instead of preserve trust.