Apple's plans to scan photos in iCloud to find child sexual abuse material (CSAM) were criticized by Edward Snowden and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).
Apple announced that with the upcoming iOS 15 will start scanning personal data to find movies and messages to children containing prohibited content.
In a series of tweets , whistleblower Edward Snowden expressed his concerns that Apple is implementing a form of “mass surveillance across the world” and setting a precedent that could allow the company to scan any other content arbitrarily in the future.
Edward Snowden also reported that Apple has always defended digital privacy after once even refusing to unlock an iPhone belonging to Syed Farook , one of the perpetrators of the attacks in San Bernardino , California.
Despite orders from the FBI and a federal judge to do so, Apple opposed the order, saying it could set a "dangerous precedent."
The EFF, a prominent international non-profit digital rights group, strongly condemned Apple's decision , saying it was "disappointing" that a "champion of end-to-end encryption" is changing "the face of users who have relied on the company's history of protecting privacy and security."
The EFF stressed that various governments around the world have passed laws requiring content monitoring and censorship on various platforms, such as messaging applications, and that Apple's move to scan messages and "iCloud Photos" could be used legally to require the monitoring of additional information.
"Make no mistake: this is a reduction in the quality of privacy for all iCloud Photos users, not an improvement," EFF said.
George is still wondering what he is doing here….
