> It would be a perfectly logical order from the power structures Snowden exposed.
Snowden exposed that Apple was actively part[1] of the PRISM data collection and surveillance program targeting Americans.
Apple also voluntarily gives up customer's data when requested by the US government for about 120,000 individuals a year[2]. They also hand over the data for over 31,000 users/accounts in response to FISA and NSL requests[2] in a six month period.
> eta: It makes way more sense to me than Apple actually thinking this was a good idea.
Based on the company's own messaging, they simply seem proud of the project and find it ambitious[3]. They're also excited about the project's expansion and evolution[3].
They do seem proud, but one of these things makes less sense than the others, given Apple's prior reasoning.
We don't know what goes on in the secret courts these days but we have been assured watchdogs are in place and certain programs are no longer in use [1]. This is all speculation based on past behavior, but I assume new reasoning has been constructed that passes watchdog's interpretation of the law but requires new hoops for three-letter agencies to jump through to get the mountains of data they so yearn for.
maybe they want to stop giving up customer data and doing this on the phone is the only way to do e2ee backups - can't hand over what you can't decrypt.
Seems like a reach to me. The government doesn't just care about CSAM. They care about terrorism, human and drug trafficking, gangs, organized crime, fraud, etc.
That might make sense if CSAM detection is just the start, and they plan on detecting all those other things, as well.
That would arouse suspicion as soon as someone (perhaps someone inside the company) figured out what was going on. Here, a key person introduces the idea, says it's "for the children," and people are baffled but the masses will forget about it, even come to accept the logic, soon enough.
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eta: It makes way more sense to me than Apple actually thinking this was a good idea.