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Apple, ethics, Human Rights, mass surveillance, News, Privacy, Technology
Apple has responded to critics of its decision to give up on its outrageous plan to spy on its customers:
https://www.wired.com/story/apple-csam-scanning-heat-initiative-letter/
“We concluded it was not practically possible to implement without ultimately imperiling the security and privacy of our users,” Apple told supporters of the plan to violate privacy.
The goal of the plan was worthwhile, but the method of accomplishing it is unacceptable. By weakening encryption with backdoors, the opportunity for abuse by hackers and authoritarian governments is too significant.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Sometimes well-meaning people do not consider the unintended negative consequences of their plans. Apple wisely realized this problem and canceled the privacy invading plan.
Furthermore, using technology to spy on billions of innocent people is inherently bad as a general rule. Any plan to do that should automatically be rejected. That Apple had seriously considered implementing such a plan at one point is concerning, but at least it ultimately reached the right decision to kill it.
Earlier, Apple claimed it would refuse to comply with most demands from law enforcement to use the snooping technology. It should be noted, however, that Apple has also said it complies with all laws, and so the technology could be used for any authorized spying purpose as a form of automated Orwellian mass surveillance in all countries including China:
Up next should be defeating proposed laws that would force tech companies to invade privacy.
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