Last week you could already read on Twitter what Edward Snowden thinks about all the fuss surrounding CSAM. In a blog post, Snowden speaks of a “growing scandal” and “new and unique intrusive surveillance system” that will be installed on more than a billion iPhones sold. These all run on Apple's inevitable proprietary software. More countries will follow after the US. Snowden explains that so far he hasn't explained what problem Apple is trying to solve. But according to him, that doesn't matter.
Major consequences
What matters are the consequences. Apple's new system may have been made with the best of intentions, but it forever changes what's yours and a company's. Previously, companies could only dig through the files if you had uploaded them. With Apple's new system, your files can be searched before the photos are even on the iCloud server. And if enough prohibited content is detected, you will be reported to the authorities. According to Snowden, this has crossed a line.
He fears that if Apple now sets a precedent as a pro-privacy company, it will also become a lot easier for other companies to cross certain boundaries. Quite a few experts have already explored to discover the technical vulnerabilities and how it could be exploited. Many experts and activists have also called on Apple to change its announced approach, but Apple is (still) willing to bend. Apple once had large billboards placed in Las Vegas with the text ‘What happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone’, but that is no longer true with the new plans.
Apple sticks to plans
iCulture was invited yesterday for an online session about CSAM, organized by Apple. It explained the chosen approach again, without really providing any new information. Apple highlighted which award-winning experts had been consulted and attempted to dispel some myths and misunderstandings. For example, it would be impossible to just use the system for other purposes, since that requires iOS to be adapted on all devices – and that would stand out.
According to Snowden, we are witnessing the emergence of a surveillance system, where any iPhone can be searched for anything Apple determines (or is instructed). You buy something but the content you put on it is no longer 100% yours. You can read the full blogpost here.
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