[spullara]

You could still have the client use Apple as a proxy. This would reduce the privacy of the message but only the URL and only exposing it to specific service at Apple. If it is a SOCKS proxy, you could reduce the exposure to just the IP address and some amount of leakage to whatever DNS server the phone is using.

[jonknee]

Why not have the sender do that work so Apple can just stay out of it?

[spullara]

The sender could be a dumb SMS client. I'd be happy to just turn off previews entirely.

[mhurron]

Which is the right way to do it and exactly how ever email client does. Do you want to see previews? Have the device make the request. Do you not want to see previews? The device shouldn't make those requests.

[simonh]

I think the idea then would be you'd only ever show embedded previews, so URLs from dumb SMS senders just wouldn't have a preview.

[jonknee]

OK, so just limit it to iMessage users like a lot of other iMessage features.