Decoder with Nilay Patel Here’s why Apple’s new child safety features are so controversial
Aug 10, 2021
In this intriguing discussion, Riana Pfefferkorn, a research scholar on encryption policy, and Jennifer King, a fellow in privacy and data policy, dive deep into Apple's new child safety features. They unpack the shift from cloud to device-based image scanning and its implications for user privacy. The guests highlight tensions between protecting children from online abuse and safeguarding user rights, examining the complexities and ethical concerns of leveraging technology for safety. Their insights raise critical questions about future digital rights and the balance between safety and privacy.
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Local Scanning vs. Cloud Scanning
- Apple's new system scans photos locally on your iPhone, matching them against a CSAM database.
- This differs from other companies that scan in the cloud, raising privacy concerns about potential government overreach.
Technical and Policy Controversies
- Apple's new child safety tools raise technical and policy questions.
- Technical questions focus on accuracy and transparency, while policy questions center on family dynamics and potential harm.
Client-Side Scanning
- Apple's system prioritizes client-side scanning to maintain user privacy.
- Other tech companies typically scan user data in the cloud, which raises different privacy concerns.