5 ms·

> The in the cloud vs. on your device aspect of this debate is the most important part and cannot be glossed over. I really do think it's a weird aspect to fix

by kemayo 5y ago

> The in the cloud vs. on your device aspect of this debate is the most important part and cannot be glossed over. I really do think it's a weird aspect to fixate on, though. So long as Apple is only scanning the photos that're being uploaded to its servers, it genuinely doesn't matter to me where that scanning happens. It's a scan that could have happened in either location, and the version where it's happening locally is arguably more private/secure-from-fishing-expeditions. If I don't like that the scanning occurs, I can disable the uploading. The distinction would matter if the local-scan involved things that weren't being uploaded. But it doesn't, so from my perspective the only difference is an implementation detail.

gigel82 5y ago
> If I don't like that the scanning occurs, I can disable the uploading. You can already do that today (I do). > But it doesn't Maybe, maybe not. Even if I were to trust Apple 100% it's again a matter of principle (no local scanning). Imagine the uproar if Microsoft Defender (which comes in-box enabled-by-default on all Windows 10/11 PCs) were to suddenly start scanning photos (it already scans executables and Office documents), hashing them against some opaque "database" and attaching tokens to suspicious ones that would be analyzed when uploaded to OneDrive (again, enabled by default for your Documents\Photos on Windows 10/11 if you use a MS Account). Then on top of that, imagine Windows was a walled garden a-la iOS and you couldn't uninstall / disable / replace Defender with a different tool (which you totally can today). I think there would be massive outrage in the press with MS being dragged through the mud for months, and droves of users switching to alternatives (like Linux) overnight. Yet (except for a few privacy / freedom organizations and a little press bleep) Apple gets to shake it off scot-free; I don't understand the dissonance.
- amznthrwaway 5y ago
  Microsoft already checks hashes against known child pornography when you put things into OneDrive, so the uproar should be fairly minimal if they scanned sooner. The really odd thing is that Apple does the scanner client-side so that the content can be encrypted, protecting your privacy more generally, and somehow a bunch of folks like you think it’s much much worse. Candidly, I think this is manufactured outrage from weird nerds who have “don’t like Apple” as part of their existing identity. These weird nerds, like you, jump through massive logical contortions to explain why it’s horrible.

by kemayo 5y ago

gigel82 5y ago

> If I don't like that the scanning occurs, I can disable the uploading. You can already do that today (I do). > But it doesn't Maybe, maybe not. Even if I were to trust Apple 100% it's again a matter of principle (no local scanning). Imagine the uproar if Microsoft Defender (which comes in-box enabled-by-default on all Windows 10/11 PCs) were to suddenly start scanning photos (it already scans executables and Office documents), hashing them against some opaque "database" and attaching tokens to suspicious ones that would be analyzed when uploaded to OneDrive (again, enabled by default for your Documents\Photos on Windows 10/11 if you use a MS Account). Then on top of that, imagine Windows was a walled garden a-la iOS and you couldn't uninstall / disable / replace Defender with a different tool (which you totally can today). I think there would be massive outrage in the press with MS being dragged through the mud for months, and droves of users switching to alternatives (like Linux) overnight. Yet (except for a few privacy / freedom organizations and a little press bleep) Apple gets to shake it off scot-free; I don't understand the dissonance.

amznthrwaway 5y ago
Microsoft already checks hashes against known child pornography when you put things into OneDrive, so the uproar should be fairly minimal if they scanned sooner. The really odd thing is that Apple does the scanner client-side so that the content can be encrypted, protecting your privacy more generally, and somehow a bunch of folks like you think it’s much much worse. Candidly, I think this is manufactured outrage from weird nerds who have “don’t like Apple” as part of their existing identity. These weird nerds, like you, jump through massive logical contortions to explain why it’s horrible.