‘Scanning photos is a setback for privacy’
In the future, Apple will automatically scan iPhone photos for images of child abuse. In a response, WhatsApp condemns this course of action.
Read on after the ad.
Contents
WhatsApp: ‘Apple takes the wrong approach with scanning photos’
Will Cathcart, who is ultimately responsible for the wildly popular chat app, does not mince words on Twitter. The WhatsApp director called Apple’s decision “wrong” and “a setback for people’s privacy”.
WhatsApp will therefore not adopt the iPhone maker’s method. The chat app sees much more in making ways to report (images of) child abuse and other illegal matters more accessible.
“Instead of Apple making it easier to report these kinds of images to authorities, the company is making software to scan all your personal photos. Even photos you’ve never shared with anyone will be viewed. That’s not privacy,” Cathcart wrote.
The WhatsApp CEO is mainly afraid that the system will end up in the wrong hands. “Will this system be used in China? What kind of content do they see as illegal and how are we ever going to find out?”, he wonders.
This is how Apple wants to combat child abuse
Apple unveiled a new method to combat the spread of child abuse last week. From iOS 15, the software that will be released for iPhones this fall, photos are automatically scanned for images of child abuse.
When the scanner sees something suspicious, an alarm is sounded and investigators check the images. Initially, the photo scanner will only be used in the United States. In the event of expansion to other countries, the iPhone maker promises to look closely at potential abuse by the government.
Read more: Apple will soon scan iPhone photos for child abuse
Facebook vs Apple
WhatsApp is owned by Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg’s company is regularly at odds with Apple. For example, Facebook reacted strongly to Apple’s decision to automatically block trackers in iOS 14.5.
As a result, apps and websites can no longer just follow you over the internet. According to Facebook, these trackers are necessary for the survival of the advertising industry.
