Cameras as a problem: Apple wanted to scan the photo media libraries of its users for child pornography – but is now shrinking back. (Image: Apple)
The announced technology for the detection of potential child abuse on the iPhones of millions of users had led to worldwide criticism. Even Edward Snowden had spoken out, suggesting that the technology, once established, could be used for all sorts of other unpleasant content. In an internal Slack channel, Apple employees are also said to have expressed themselves critical of the planned area scan of all photo media libraries of all iPhones in the USA.
Apple wants to take its time and revise functions
In the temporal connection with these plans, documents that were used by the court in the case of Epic against Apple were added known that Apple has been scanning the e-mails from its iCloud Mail service for abusive material for years.
Now Apple wants “additional time take ”to refine the features before launching them to the public. Compared to 9to5Mac, the manufacturer said:
“Last month we announced plans for features to help protect children from malicious actors who use communication tools to woo and exploit them and limit the distribution of child sexual abuse material. Based on feedback from customers, stakeholders, researchers and others, we have decided to take more time in the coming months to gather ideas and make improvements before releasing these very important child protection features. ”
Anyone who hopes that Apple could give up the plans should read again more closely. The group continues to describe the planned functions as “extremely important”. Apparently it is really only about a technical and communicative revision to avoid another shit storm. In addition, researchers had already recreated and tricked the core component of the photo scan. It is possible that Apple will also want to work on the technical reliability again.
A new schedule there is not any
Apple’s new child safety features should be included as part of updates for iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey will be launched later this year. This should no longer be expected for the time being. Apple has not communicated a new schedule. There is also little information about what Apple specifically wants to change before the functions are due to be introduced again.
About the others from Apple in the Child safety functions announced last month and now also postponed included a feature that should send parents a warning if their child receives or sends nude photos in Apple’s chat service iMessage.
This is how Apple’s photo scanning technology should work
Apple’s Method of Detecting Child Abuse Material also depicts, so-called CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material), should take into account the protection of the privacy of the users. Instead of scanning images in the cloud, the system does a reconciliation on the device using a database of known CSAM image hashes provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children NCMEC and other child protection organizations. Apple converts this database into an illegible set of hashes that are securely stored on users’ devices.
Before an image in iCloud Photos are saved, a device-internal comparison is made with the known CSAM hashes. A cryptographic technology called “Private Set Intersection” is used to determine whether there is a match without revealing the result. If it matches with additional encrypted data about the image, the device creates a cryptographic security certificate that is uploaded to iCloud Photos together with the image. These certificates can then be opened via the cloud and subjected to a further check.
