By Janet Levy.
Recently, Apple announced that it will deploy a new algorithm, NeuralMatch, to monitor iMessages and images on its devices. The ostensible purpose is to scan for photos containing nudity sent by or to children and also for photos of nude or seminude children. If a number of suspect images are backed up to an iCloud account, they will be decrypted and inspected, and the user reported to law enforcement. Police could then investigate or prosecute the user for possession of child pornography or for child sex abuse or other offenses. But, well-intentioned as the motive may sound, this is a matter of grave concern for privacy. Once such surveillance is begun, it opens the gates for other tech firms to follow suit, and worse, for warrantless scans for nefarious government purposes.
Coming as it does from Apple, this is a curious development in the U.S. For although Apple has bent over backward to please the Chinese government on its surveillance and censorship needs, it has vehemently resisted assisting the U.S. government. It has refused to unlock cellphones for criminal investigations and prosecutions, citing concerns about protecting the data and privacy of its customers. It has received — and objected to — at least 10 requests from federal courts for extracting data from locked iPhones. But now, in a complete turnabout, if Apple thinks (or its algorithm decides) that certain images are illegal, it will cooperate with the authorities.
In 2016, the FBI asked Apple to unlock a phone used by one of the Islamic terrorists who attacked the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, murdering 14 people and injuring 22. Apple declined, citing a corporate policy to never undermine the security features of its products. Following another terrorist attack at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, in 2019, Apple again rejected a government request to unlock the perpetrator’s phone. Then-Attorney General William Barr insisted that tech companies have an obligation to give law enforcement access to encrypted devices, but Apple refused. It said doing so would weaken encryption and thus jeopardize the data security of its customers. read more
It’s always about money.
Steve Jobs choice for his successor was a big FU. Jobs was both brilliant and an asshole.
We don’t own one single Apple product. Won’t ever. Way overpriced and over monitored.
On a similar note…we got a letter from my husband’s work today. It offered a $100 Amazon gift card if I signed up to have my blood pressure and health monitored with a phone app.
NOPE. NEVER.
Sounds like a trial for vaxports.
More likely,
“the ability to block political and religious content and to actively monitor individual computer behavior. ”
Aren’t they already doing this,
“These firms have readily signed on to pledges for internet censorship,”
And this,
“With social media giants censoring conservative speech and any information contrary to the government narrative,”
Conclusion,
Banning and criminalizing speech that is critical of the government is usually the first step towards totalitarianism.
Fuck Apple. Their interface is for lamebrains with other people’s money.
Should I short Apple stock?
Wait, the only alternatives are Microsoft and Google. They will follow suit.
LCD,
Sure, short Apple stock.
Then turn around and reinvest in PMs (Precious Metals); gold, silver, copper, brass, lead…..
gearing up?
They’re in high gear already and have their foot to the floor
have an iphone?
go to ‘settings’
on probably the first page, scroll down
find ‘contact notifications’
yeah that thing you’re looking at is tracking you and every bluetooth device it comes near.
On a positive note:
We are happy to announce that our Research and Development Department is working on an accessory for the iphone. It will be a fashionable strap that will allow the iphone to be worn as an ankle monitor. We’re happy to be working to give you what you really want. And we know.
It will truly be a hands free device!
First there was the ‘obama phone’, and now we bring you- the ‘biden phone!’
The ‘Biden phone’ – does it include a Lid? That would make it a flip-out phone! C’mon, man!