Code for Apple's Communication Safety Feature for Kids Found in iOS 15.2 Beta [Updated]

[840quadra]

There is. You just didn’t read it. Apple has documented both these systems in great detail, even including a technical paper describing the exact algorithms for the CSAM detection (which we are not talking about here).

That is an incorrect assumption, I am also well aware they are not talking about CSAM. Thanks.

There are still questions, and like some Tech security analysts have discussed Apple's details are a bit vague and read more like Marketing than actual details on what is happening on the devices. This thread, Posts on Reddit, and other forums seem to strongly indicate that their (even updated) message has not come across correctly or that well.

Again, not against either technology (even the CSAM not being discussed here), just feel Apple can spend a bit more time / marketing / whatever, to get their message out.

 

[Bull 07]

Freedom is not good when it is abused.

 

[dannyyankou]

Maybe you should be. Angry parents show up at school board meetings, and now the government wants them investigated as domestic terrorists? I rest my case.

If you look at the original memo you're referring to, they were specifically talking about incidents of violence. But that's way off topic.

 

[coachgq]

Hopefully no CSAM ever… The system is going to be exploited by some states one way or the other.

While I don’t disagree with you about the potential exploitation, would you say that our current system of “freedom” is being exploited by criminals right now?

 

[Bull 07]

Look in my iclau I have nothing to hide.

 

[coachgq]

Sigh, this was a worse idea than the CSAM detection.

Vulnerable people will die as a result of this, and it should keep the people who worked on it at Apple awake at night.

I haven’t read all 126 comments, but can you explain what you mean? Who is considered “vulnerable” that will die?

 

[Bull 07]

Thank you Apple for thinking about kids.

 

[Bull 07]

To great evils great solutions good for Apple.

 

[ericwn]

Freedom is not good when it is abused.

Which freedom is abused here exactly?

 

[ericwn]

Look in my iclau I have nothing to hide.

What’s that?

 

[zchrykng]

I'm honestly not sure why it doesn't alert parents for children over 13. It will just result in some parents keeping their children's devices as locked down as possible for longer if they aren't confident in their ability to be notified of this stuff.

 

[SFjohn]

Oops, after 6 pages of comments the headline now reads: NEVERMIND

 

[Pro Apple Silicon]

I understand what Apple is trying to do here, but no. Simply, no. Not now. Not ever. Just stop Apple.

 

[Thebrochure]

CSAM is coming.

And just like Apple must have worked on CSAM for a long time without telling anybody, they might be working on a whole lot of other things too. And all those things are coming to our devices, like it or not.

They're not coming to my devices because as soon as it comes out, I'm selling them all.

 

[Pro Apple Silicon]

I'm honestly not sure why it doesn't alert parents for children over 13. It will just result in some parents keeping their children's devices as locked down as possible for longer if they aren't confident in their ability to be notified of this stuff.

Good.

 

[gldoorii]

Maybe Apple can do a conference teaching parents how to parent better instead of being like "F it, we'll do it ourselves"

 

[BenLeong]

I think someone can simultaneously be for protection for children AND against the way Apple is carrying out said measures. It doesn’t have to only be one or the other.

Also, while I heavily, expressively disagree with how Apple is rolling this out, it frustrates me that more people don’t vote against it with their wallet. If I, or anyone, doesn’t support it, then we have the option to not buy any more iPhones. Will that happen? No.

 

[Abazigal]

I think someone can simultaneously be for protection for children AND against the way Apple is carrying out said measures. It doesn’t have to only be one or the other.

Also, while I heavily, expressively disagree with how Apple is rolling this out, it frustrates me that more people don’t vote against it with their wallet. If I, or anyone, doesn’t support it, then we have the option to not buy any more iPhones. Will that happen? No.

In an earlier poll, 70% of forum goers voted they they were not against the proposed CSAM measures, and the people here are already considered the more vocal critics when it comes to anything Apple.

Just something to think about. The public may not be as opposed to such a move as we may otherwise have been led to believe by the online furore.

 

[Martin Bland]

In an earlier poll, 70% of forum goers voted they they were not against the proposed CSAM measures, and the people here are already considered the more vocal critics when it comes to anything Apple.

Just something to think about. The public may not be as opposed to such a move as we may otherwise have been led to believe by the online furore.

Is the linked poll below the one you are thinking of? Because it’s not even close to 70%. More like 43%.

70% or 43%, if the disapproval is real and leads to lost sales, it can’t possibly be good for Apple’s bottom line. It would be catastrophic.

Will you leave the Apple ecosystem because of CSAM?

In light of the recent scandal backlash, will you consider moving out of the Apple ecosystem? Edit: For those who voted no: a new option has been added and you might want to revise your vote.

forums.macrumors.com

Anecdotally, I was going to get an iPhone 13 Pro and a maxed out MacBook Pro this year. Not anymore. Not until Apple loudly announces a complete cancellation of their CSAM scanning plans along with an apology. If it doesn’t, I’m permanently done with Apple.

 

[Abazigal]

Is the linked poll below the one you are thinking of? Because it’s not even close to 70%. More like 43%.

70% or 43%, if the disapproval is real and leads to lost sales, that can’t possibly be good for Apple’s bottom line. It would be catastrophic.

Will you leave the Apple ecosystem because of CSAM?

In light of the recent scandal backlash, will you consider moving out of the Apple ecosystem? Edit: For those who voted no: a new option has been added and you might want to revise your vote.

forums.macrumors.com

Yup, that’s the one. I added the last two categories to get the 70%.

 

[Martin Bland]

Yup, that’s the one. I added the last two categories to get the 70%.

I think you’re being optimistic in interpreting “I’m not comfortable with it” as “not against it”.

“I’m not comfortable” is not a feeling any company should give its customers.

 

[Dionte]

Ban kids from iPhone. Make it an adult only device. They don’t even need to be on the internet. The internet is not a safe place for kids and most parents suck at monitoring what their kids are up to.

 

[Johnny907]

So if it won’t be released what’s the code doing in this release?

 

[SmugMaverick]

The moment it comes to iPhone, I'm gone because I'm not a sheep.

For all the crap everyone on here gives Google, they would get slaughtered far worse if they pulled a stunt like this.

Apple pretending to give a damn when this is nothing more than an attempt to sell devices to parents so they think their kids will be safe with an iPhone and all while Saudi, Russia, China etc use it for hunting down people.

Funny thing is, this will force kids to use another messaging app to avoid being spied on and the reign of iMessage in the US will be over.

Everyone knows deep down this is a terrible idea, but they'd rather turn a blind eye so they can still use iMessage with some lazy moron who can't download another messaging app.

 

[redbeard331]

Imagine in the future your country is ruled by a thin skinned authoritarian who has unflattering images of him put into the database.

How about we protect kids from gunfire and PFAS instead of thinking this dystopian stuff will save them from anything.