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This isn't a revenue generating initiative. It is different than your examples. Apple is trying to make two groups happy, governments and customers. Governme

by adrr 5y ago

This isn't a revenue generating initiative. It is different than your examples. Apple is trying to make two groups happy, governments and customers. Governments don't like like encryption(assuming Apple starts encrypting iCloud photos with device based keys) and consumers don't like governments snooping on them. If you're were the CEO of apple who would you favor knowing either group could cost you money. Governments could prioritize antitrust initiatives against apple and consumers could stop buying apple products.

denton-scratch 5y ago
> knowing either group could cost you money I'm not a businessman, but I believe Apple's main customers are not governments, so I suppose that it's not good business for Apple to ignore their users' preferences. Governments in most of Apple's marketplaces change every few years, after all.
- adrr 5y ago
  Why they pulled the scanning was because of customer backlash. Fallout is yet to be seen what governments especially when Apple switches to not having access the keys to decrypt iCloud photos and documents. And moves iCloud backups to being encrypted. One high profile crime especially involving children and we’ll see government propose escrowed keys. UK is already proposing it. I am not saying it’s right or wrong. I do believe consumers anger at Apple is the wrong target. If they want change, get governments to pass laws that guarantee encryption as a “right”.
  - BrazzVuvuzela 5y ago
    > Why they pulled the scanning They pulled documents about the scanning, but we don't actually know they pulled the scanning itself. > when Apple switches to not having access the keys to decrypt iCloud photos and documents. We don't know that they are/were going to do that either. It's just a popular 'fan theory.'
    - adrr 5y ago
      If weren't going to do device based keys, why put scanning on the device? Scan on the servers. There would have been 0 backlash if they did that.
Nevermark 5y ago
You could ship a mechanism that scans your documents but doesn't report anything. Or do something equally pointless, but just as signally. I feel like so many of these unstoppable force meets immovable wall situations warp both functionality and discourse (on all sides) on said functionality. This comes about because everything is getting so centralized. The government wants to be in everything, and Apple (stand in for all big tech) does too. This pits them against each other, with the consumer only acknowledged when there is vast consumer agreement and motivation. Similar to App Store, Apple wants total control, then governments use Apple's control to cut of access to particular apps. Consumers that understand the severe loss of freedom this creates (for them and developers) both immediate and in lost innovation don't like it. But there isn't a huge consumer uproar on that one ... so freedom wilts. Bundling these basic features (cloud backups, app stores) with operating systems is creating an unholy government/platform axis that wins every time consumers are unable to drum up the motivation to speak as coherent allies pushing back.

by adrr 5y ago

denton-scratch 5y ago

> knowing either group could cost you money I'm not a businessman, but I believe Apple's main customers are not governments, so I suppose that it's not good business for Apple to ignore their users' preferences. Governments in most of Apple's marketplaces change every few years, after all.

adrr 5y ago
Why they pulled the scanning was because of customer backlash. Fallout is yet to be seen what governments especially when Apple switches to not having access the keys to decrypt iCloud photos and documents. And moves iCloud backups to being encrypted. One high profile crime especially involving children and we’ll see government propose escrowed keys. UK is already proposing it. I am not saying it’s right or wrong. I do believe consumers anger at Apple is the wrong target. If they want change, get governments to pass laws that guarantee encryption as a “right”.
- BrazzVuvuzela 5y ago
  > Why they pulled the scanning They pulled documents about the scanning, but we don't actually know they pulled the scanning itself. > when Apple switches to not having access the keys to decrypt iCloud photos and documents. We don't know that they are/were going to do that either. It's just a popular 'fan theory.'
  - adrr 5y ago
    If weren't going to do device based keys, why put scanning on the device? Scan on the servers. There would have been 0 backlash if they did that.

Nevermark 5y ago

You could ship a mechanism that scans your documents but doesn't report anything. Or do something equally pointless, but just as signally. I feel like so many of these unstoppable force meets immovable wall situations warp both functionality and discourse (on all sides) on said functionality. This comes about because everything is getting so centralized. The government wants to be in everything, and Apple (stand in for all big tech) does too. This pits them against each other, with the consumer only acknowledged when there is vast consumer agreement and motivation. Similar to App Store, Apple wants total control, then governments use Apple's control to cut of access to particular apps. Consumers that understand the severe loss of freedom this creates (for them and developers) both immediate and in lost innovation don't like it. But there isn't a huge consumer uproar on that one ... so freedom wilts. Bundling these basic features (cloud backups, app stores) with operating systems is creating an unholy government/platform axis that wins every time consumers are unable to drum up the motivation to speak as coherent allies pushing back.