Communications of the ACM
Apple is Prying into iPhones to Find Sexual Predators
In Apples new system, photos and messages will be scanned on a users device, a new level of surveillance on what is known as the client-side" that raised eyebrows among civil libertarians and privacy advocates.
Credit: Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Apple unveiled a sweeping new set of software tools Thursday that will scan iPhones and other devices for child pornography and text messages with explicit content and report users suspected of storing illegal pictures on their phones to authorities.
The aggressive plan to thwart child predators and pedophiles and prohibit them from utilizing Apple's services for illegal activity pitted the tech giant against civil liberties activists and appeared to contradict some of its own long-held assertions about privacy and the way the company interacts with law enforcement.
The move also raises new questions about the nature of smartphones and who really owns the computers in their pockets. The new software will perform scans on its users' devices without their knowledge or explicit consent, and potentially put innocent users in legal jeopardy.
From The Washington Post
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