If the hashes are hard wired into IOS or any Apple software it will end in tears for Apple. Always hard to backtrack on what you thought was a good idea but isn't, but the worst thing anyone can do is then try to justify a crap idea and go forward with it.
I've already alerted certain authorities in the UK, EU, and USA as I consider this so serious, it warrants action within most countries with of course exceptions being countries run by dictators. I spoke to an MP here in the UK last night, and explained my concern which he agreed with, and where in the past Apple have consistently stood on a pedestal in public and in the courts to explain their refusal to cooperate with law enforcement/counter terror organisations on the the basis of upholding PRIVACY of the individual and against SURVEILLANCE.
What we are seeing here is a typical situation where a company grows so big, it wields more power than many countries, in common with Facebook, Amazon etc., and where then they start to develop megalomania.
This is how ironically we get the Epsteins, where power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
It's always done in the name of good, but where it seldom is.
I met with my fellow partners yesterday and we will no longer recommend Apple equipment, nor use Apple equipment of any sort should this situation continue.
The agencies in the UK and the USA who I have worked with in the past will confirm they have not been in contact with Apple over this, and indeed could never sanction releasing hashes to Apple or any other company, and indeed on occasions when these agencies have requested assistance over multiple threats, Apple have always refused.
Even the answer by Apple after this issue gained so much attention was NOT accurate, as they refer to comparing hashes, but in order to do that you have to have hashes to compare with....you would need a complete database from crime agencies in order to do this. Apple do NOT have access.
Crime agencies, however we may feel about some of the excesses, we know what they do and we know what their job is, including on occasion ironically surveillance, hopefully for the greater good, but where even then they are subject to checks and balances. It is so hypocritical then for Apple to believe THEY ARE NOW THE LEGITIMATE WORLD POLICE FORCE.
Would I even trust facial recognition now on an Apple....will the next idea be storing facial recognition to do with as they wish? Will Touch ID include keeping copies of fingerprints, to do with what they wish?
I understand certain government security agencies eavesdrop on subjects of interest, use Surveillance, and invade Privacy to fight crime etc. etc., and where even there I have significant reservations, but I do not expect a private company with no authority or mandate from the customer or the electorate to do so, let alone engage in obfuscation and try to justify that action in the name of saving children, with software that does not do what they say, will not do what they say, and where they don't even have access to the hashes they are purportedly comparing photos with, when their actions will make it harder for the agencies employed in doing that in our name, as paedos and criminals will take preventative action and go much deeper into encryption, VPN's, dark web etc. etc., that will make the Apple fag packet idea useless, and in the process make it even more difficult for agencies dedicated to do that work, agencies who are under the jurisdiction of governments and in the most part from freely elected governments.
This idea was not to protect children it was to implement the principle of APPLE being empowered invade privacy and engage in surveillance, an ultimate irony considering their public stance over the same subjects.
A very slipper slope they should never go down.
My company guard our privacy and our customers data, so how could we possibly entrust Apple if this idea goes ahead. I will not be posting more on this particular point, as I hope it will become subjudice if enough people and democratic governments take action to thwart this.
I'm sure some dictatorships, some authoritarian states will be so pleased at Apple's actions, and the cynic in me wonders whether it could be as a result of these countries exerting pressure on Apple to fit in with their own surveillance states.
Difficult for me as I've had a good relationship with Apple since 1976
