[Gigachad]

Because the idea is that the iCloud data would be encrypted so their servers couldn’t scan it. With the plan being they would do on device scanning of photos that were marked as being stored on iCloud.

It’s objectively better than what google does but I’m glad we somehow ended up with no scanning at all.

[Moldoteck]

that sounds strange, I mean i'm not sure what's the big difference. If data is scanned on icloud, this means it's not encrypted, got it, if scanned on devices, data is fully encrypted on icloud, but apple has access by scanning it on devices and can send unencrypted matches, so it behaves as an unencrypted system, that can be altered at apple's will, just like icloud... but still, why scanning locally only if icloud is enabled? why not scan regardless? Since policy is meant to 'catch bad ppl', why limit to icloud option and not scan all the time

[nemothekid]

Apple doesn’t want to scan period. However if Apple does E2ee icloud, the biggest political issue will be that of CSAM. So in order to reserve CSAM, they came up with this scheme.

Apple doesn’t want to expand their power which is why they don’t scan locally. They weren’t doing it before and they don’t want to offer it now.

[kalleboo]

> Since policy is meant to 'catch bad ppl', why limit to icloud option and not scan all the time

The policy is meant to ensure Apple's servers are not storing and distributing CSAM, not that Apple wants to become a police investigative force.