[tpush]

> This will happen with or without iCloud;

You don't know that.

> The only reason to do this clientside when the data is already readable on the server is to do it to images that aren't hitting the cloud.

Or to eventually e2e encrypt all of iCloud. Or because Apple doesn't want to decrypt images server-side if they don't have to. Etc.

But the point is that currently, only photos that will be uploaded to iCloud Photo Library will be scanned. Making definitive points about possible future scenarios isn't particularly insightful, especially because the current system isn't much of a precondition of those scenarios.

[sneak]

None of this is happening "currently"; both of these claims are speculation about future changes based on Apple's statements.

Apple has made 3 announcements and released one research paper and held a press conference. Now we have to reconstruct what is likely going to be the truth from their carefully crafted statements.

[tpush]

With currently I obviously meant the system that's going to be deployed in the next major update.

The rest of my points still stand.

[sneak]

Yes, and I mean the same system, based on the same statements from Apple.

Clientside scanning will happen even without iCloud. Apple expects and pressures all users to use iCloud, defaults it to on without interaction or consent, and does not test the non-iCloud paths very well. You can't even setup a homepod to be a simple wifi speaker without iCloud.

[tpush]

> Clientside scanning will happen even without iCloud.

Again, you don't know that. "Scanning" (whatever that even means) non-iCloud photos would be completely pointless.

And you said:

> The only reason to do this clientside when the data is already readable on the server is to do it to images that aren't hitting the cloud.

Again, you don't know that at all. You present your speculation as the "only reason" with no knowledge at all.