3 ms·

I get this sentiment but the known-bad-image-scanning technology is not new. That’s not what Apple announced. Many tech services already do that, which already

I get this sentiment but the known-bad-image-scanning technology is not new. That’s not what Apple announced. Many tech services already do that, which already enables the slippery slope you’re illustrating here. I’m not trying to minimize the danger of that slope. But as someone who is interested in the particulars of what Apple announced specifically, it is getting tiresome to wade through all the comments from people just discovering that PhotoDNA exists in general.

vineyardmike 5y ago
But now its on your device. "Its just when you upload to icloud or recieve an iMessage" they say. BUT the software's on your device forever. What about next year? What about after an authoritarian goverment approaches them? By 2023 it might be searching non-uploaded photos. You can always not use cloud tech like PhotoDNA but you can't not use software BUILT IN to your device. Especially when its not transparent.
- mirkules 5y ago
  It’s also not inconceivable to access the camera live and perform recognition live on feeds. It’s not even that expensive to do that anymore.
  - osmarks 5y ago
    It would probably kill the battery to do that constantly, as the processor would not be able to sleep ever. Although relying on energy efficiency to not improve is not a good long term situation.
    - mirkules 5y ago
      You can be selective about it. There is GPS to tell you where you are, microphone to tell you how many people are around, motion sensor, light sensor to sense if you’re in a pocket, etc. It doesn’t have to be constant, it could even be on demand. Personally, I am resigned to the fact that this kind of surveillance will happen. Technology cannot be slowed down or stopped artificially. There are just too many actors (not just Apple) to expect all of them to act in good faith. On top of that, the governments all over the world are salivating over this technology too. I don’t trust governments will curtail technology - and thus themselves - via policy. And even if one does, there is always another. This is almost nothing new in the UK, for example. I’m not optimistic in the direction we have been heading for the ladt 15 years or so.
  - vineyardmike 5y ago
    Facial recognition is already part of all camera software today.
- gordon_gee123 5y ago
  Nothing stopping countries from demanding every tech organization does this anyway, it didnt just become a possibility now Apples running code on-device. Also this code can and probably will be able to be activated/deactivated/removed remotely (for better or worse!)

vineyardmike 5y ago

But now its on your device. "Its just when you upload to icloud or recieve an iMessage" they say. BUT the software's on your device forever. What about next year? What about after an authoritarian goverment approaches them? By 2023 it might be searching non-uploaded photos. You can always not use cloud tech like PhotoDNA but you can't not use software BUILT IN to your device. Especially when its not transparent.

mirkules 5y ago
It’s also not inconceivable to access the camera live and perform recognition live on feeds. It’s not even that expensive to do that anymore.
- osmarks 5y ago
  It would probably kill the battery to do that constantly, as the processor would not be able to sleep ever. Although relying on energy efficiency to not improve is not a good long term situation.
  - mirkules 5y ago
    You can be selective about it. There is GPS to tell you where you are, microphone to tell you how many people are around, motion sensor, light sensor to sense if you’re in a pocket, etc. It doesn’t have to be constant, it could even be on demand. Personally, I am resigned to the fact that this kind of surveillance will happen. Technology cannot be slowed down or stopped artificially. There are just too many actors (not just Apple) to expect all of them to act in good faith. On top of that, the governments all over the world are salivating over this technology too. I don’t trust governments will curtail technology - and thus themselves - via policy. And even if one does, there is always another. This is almost nothing new in the UK, for example. I’m not optimistic in the direction we have been heading for the ladt 15 years or so.
- vineyardmike 5y ago
  Facial recognition is already part of all camera software today.
gordon_gee123 5y ago
Nothing stopping countries from demanding every tech organization does this anyway, it didnt just become a possibility now Apples running code on-device. Also this code can and probably will be able to be activated/deactivated/removed remotely (for better or worse!)