[WorldMaker]

Yes, that would be why it sends copies, encrypted with a different key to the users' own storage keys.

[philwelch]

So in other words, the only thing stopping Apple from viewing my iCloud photos is an if statement.

[kemayo]

That would also be true for any use of iCloud Photos, no? If you don't trust this, then you also can't trust them to be storing them encrypted on their servers.