Apple’s Child-Porn Tracking System Is Flawed, Report Says
- Plans by Apple, European Union rely on ‘dangerous technology’
- Report says photo-scanning method opens door to abuse
A method promulgated by Apple Inc. and the European Union to scan people’s digital storage repositories for evidence of child pornography and other illegal content is a “dangerous technology” that can’t be implemented in a way that accomplishes the dual feat of preserving users’ privacy while helping government agencies conduct investigations, a group of prominent cryptographers and other security experts wrote in a report published Friday.
The 46-page report counts among its 14 authors pioneers in encryption software. It outlines, in detail, what the authors deem the numerous risks of a technique called “client-side scanning,” which was at the heart of a controversy that erupted when Cupertino, California-based Apple announced a plan in August to scan users’ iCloud Photos accounts for sexually explicit images of children and then report instances to relevant authorities. Apple later postponed those plans amid the backlash. The New York Times previously reported on the experts’ concerns.