iCloud CSAM scanning does not do what you described in your last paragraph, you're describing the proposed on device csam scanning. There are many "product features" with a finite set of technical building blocks. Lets break it down:
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Encryption , Storage and Transport:
-Presently, this is considered "strong" on-device where Apple claims they cannot access content on your device and it is encrypted.
-Data sent to their servers as part of the automatic (opt in) photo backup service (icloud photos) is considered fair game to scan and they do that routinely.
-This data is encrypted "End to end". What that means is up for debate since it's taken on a commercial brand shape and isn't a technical guarantee of anything.
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Explicit consent for access and storage:
-This is the point. Your device belongs to you. No one should be snooping around there.
-Apple is presently retiring the aforementioned icloud photo scanning and has simultaneously released a statement that's very obscure in what precisely they mean.
-They indicate that scanning on the server is waayyy too late in preventing CSAM and indicate that they think the best way to prevent CSAM is at the point of origin.
-Of course, what that means is : "Scan everything, when something matches, do an action"
-The "Opt-in" here is for the warnings on a child device, but it is an OS LEVEL FEATURE.
-If some media is being scanned, ALL media is potentially being scanned.
-Presently, for audio, one easy way to reduce your bandwidth costs of backing up, scanning on a server etc is to move everything onto the device itself.
-This has been demonstrated by the Accessibility menu feature i have already called out in my parent comment. You have an audio buffer on your iPhone TODAY that is ALWAYS ACTIVE. When the accessibility toggle is turned on, the contents of this buffer are regularly classified against a trained model.
-When a match occurs, the OS responds with the configured response.
THIS IS A DANGEROUS FRAMEWORK. Swap the media type to any generic type and swap what you're looking for from CSAM to a mention of a political phrase such as abortion. You're asking us to TRUST that the company will never be compelled to do that by authoritarian governments or any hostile entity for that matter? No fucking thank you.
iCloud CSAM scanning does not do what you described in your last paragraph, you're describing the proposed on device csam scanning. There are many "product features" with a finite set of technical building blocks. Lets break it down:
----------------------- Encryption , Storage and Transport:
-Presently, this is considered "strong" on-device where Apple claims they cannot access content on your device and it is encrypted.
-Data sent to their servers as part of the automatic (opt in) photo backup service (icloud photos) is considered fair game to scan and they do that routinely.
-This data is encrypted "End to end". What that means is up for debate since it's taken on a commercial brand shape and isn't a technical guarantee of anything.
------------------
Explicit consent for access and storage:
-This is the point. Your device belongs to you. No one should be snooping around there.
-Apple is presently retiring the aforementioned icloud photo scanning and has simultaneously released a statement that's very obscure in what precisely they mean.
-They indicate that scanning on the server is waayyy too late in preventing CSAM and indicate that they think the best way to prevent CSAM is at the point of origin.
-Of course, what that means is : "Scan everything, when something matches, do an action"
-The "Opt-in" here is for the warnings on a child device, but it is an OS LEVEL FEATURE.
-If some media is being scanned, ALL media is potentially being scanned.
-Presently, for audio, one easy way to reduce your bandwidth costs of backing up, scanning on a server etc is to move everything onto the device itself.
-This has been demonstrated by the Accessibility menu feature i have already called out in my parent comment. You have an audio buffer on your iPhone TODAY that is ALWAYS ACTIVE. When the accessibility toggle is turned on, the contents of this buffer are regularly classified against a trained model.
-When a match occurs, the OS responds with the configured response.
THIS IS A DANGEROUS FRAMEWORK. Swap the media type to any generic type and swap what you're looking for from CSAM to a mention of a political phrase such as abortion. You're asking us to TRUST that the company will never be compelled to do that by authoritarian governments or any hostile entity for that matter? No fucking thank you.