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I have mixed feelings about this.. It sounds like a useful feature but I don't want to help Apple to train their algorithms which they're still planning to use

I have mixed feelings about this.. It sounds like a useful feature but I don't want to help Apple to train their algorithms which they're still planning to use to snoop on our computers. Their plans are only 'on hold', not cancelled. Which sounds a lot like they're waiting for the upheaval to blow over, or for some other vendor to introduce this so they can point the finger at them and say they're not doing anything unprecedented. So probably I won't use it, I've already stopped using Apple's built in photo app and most of iCloud anyway. Not that I have anything to hide, I just don't want big tech looking over my shoulder. It was great when Apple was one of the last to take a stand on privacy and I'm sad at the ease with which they threw it out the window.

KarlKemp 5y ago
They are not asking for users to correct or provide any information, so you really aren't helping. Plus, it isn't even obvious how tags on your sightseeing photos would be used to improve CSAM detection.
- GekkePrutser 5y ago
  Fair enough, but the investment sure helps to serve both goals. I wasn't aware there was no training going on from the user side though. I have to admit the text OCR in photos could be handy. But I hate it when their algorithms poke around my photos trying to identify people and locations and auto-categorise them (which it's already done for a few years now). It makes me feel spied upon and there didn't seem to be a way to switch this off on iOS. That was one of the many more things (both on the privacy and vendor lock-in side) I have issues with on Mac and iOS now and I've moved away completely in my personal life. I only use it for work now. My personal mobile is Android but degoogled and with mostly open source apps and tracking blockers on the ones that aren't. So this was not the only reason. I did move all my old content out of iCloud recently but there was also little need to still have it there especially because of its closed nature.
- GekkePrutser 5y ago
  By the way, another article from the same author came out today where he mentions the same thing: https://eclecticlight.co/2022/03/20/last-week-on-my-mac-is-look-up-destined-for-csam/ https://eclecticlight.co/2022/03/20/last-week-on-my-mac-is-l... So I'm not the only one who sees a connection here :)

KarlKemp 5y ago

They are not asking for users to correct or provide any information, so you really aren't helping. Plus, it isn't even obvious how tags on your sightseeing photos would be used to improve CSAM detection.

GekkePrutser 5y ago
Fair enough, but the investment sure helps to serve both goals. I wasn't aware there was no training going on from the user side though. I have to admit the text OCR in photos could be handy. But I hate it when their algorithms poke around my photos trying to identify people and locations and auto-categorise them (which it's already done for a few years now). It makes me feel spied upon and there didn't seem to be a way to switch this off on iOS. That was one of the many more things (both on the privacy and vendor lock-in side) I have issues with on Mac and iOS now and I've moved away completely in my personal life. I only use it for work now. My personal mobile is Android but degoogled and with mostly open source apps and tracking blockers on the ones that aren't. So this was not the only reason. I did move all my old content out of iCloud recently but there was also little need to still have it there especially because of its closed nature.
GekkePrutser 5y ago
By the way, another article from the same author came out today where he mentions the same thing: https://eclecticlight.co/2022/03/20/last-week-on-my-mac-is-look-up-destined-for-csam/ https://eclecticlight.co/2022/03/20/last-week-on-my-mac-is-l... So I'm not the only one who sees a connection here :)