Isn't a hash collision from similar images the point of the whole thing? At any rate, IANAL, but I'm pretty sure you can't be convicted based on a hash alone.

Isn't a hash collision from similar images the point of the whole thing? At any rate, IANAL, but I'm pretty sure you can't be convicted based on a hash alone. If you get busted for possession of a picture of a nematode and you can show the jury it's just a picture of an axe that has the same value when run through this algorithm, you'll be fine. And there's a decent chance prosecutors won't chase down individuals who will just have a single collision in their photo library with this tech in the first place - people who have dozens or hundreds will be much more interesting.