Apple will monitor you.
August 5day Apple announced a new technology that will run on Apple devices, from Mac to iPhone. It is called “Expanding the Protection of Children”. Sounds like an amazing, noble, well-meaning endeavor-right?
When it comes to child exploitation and child pornography, I am a “throw away the key” supporter. In fact, I can hit the brains of those poisonous snakes with bullets. But the problem is not Apple’s public intentions, but the potential results. Apple’s unconscious new algorithm may end privacy on its platform, opening an obvious and endless back door, monitoring iCloud for exploitative or “offensive” photos, and then alerting the authorities.
Well-intentioned, yes, but who (or what) at Apple decides what is considered “offensive”? I have asked Siri for directions, but it sometimes goes wrong. Give any machine a task and it will go wrong at some point.
When my eldest son was about 2 years old, he walked into the family room, wearing only a top hat to cover most of his face-nothing was covering his private parts. I took a picture and I still keep it. My guess is that if that photo is saved in iCloud, that photo will be tagged and the rest of my photos will be reviewed.
An extreme example? Apple assures us that it knows better. Trust Apple. What other photos will Apple’s 23-year-old cadre look at? Which of my saved photos will be reviewed? Will my 2-year-old “nude” picture be sent to the “authorities”? I guess yes.
But Apple’s plan also scares technologists and civil libertarians.Electronic Frontier Foundation Say:
Apple is opening the door to wider abuse.
Greg Nojeim, Director of the Center for Democracy and Technology Say:
“Apple is replacing its industry-standard end-to-end encrypted messaging system with a surveillance and censorship infrastructure, which is vulnerable to abuse and scope spread not only in the United States, but also across the world.”
He urged the company to “abandon these changes.”
Recall a terrorist named Syed Farouk was murdered Fourteen people were in San Bernardino. When the FBI asked Apple to unlock Farook’s encrypted iPhone, Apple refused. Although Farook is undoubtedly a terrorist, and unlocking his phone helps law enforcement, Apple still refuses to help.
Apple’s excuse? “Privacy.” Apple said that even terrorists have the right to privacy. Terrorists with AK-47 will not be marked. Apple’s privacy is subjective. But if you take a picture of a baby taking a bath in a bathtub, Apple may view this picture and all of your other pictures at the same time.
Exploitation of children is the most serious crime. But what if your baby is in the bathtub? Apple will monitor you.
