This will happen with or without iCloud; the photos in iCloud are already not end to end encrypted and could easily be scanned on the server side because Apple can read all of them today.
The only reason to do this clientside when the data is already readable on the server is to do it to images that aren't hitting the cloud.
> The only reason to do this clientside when the data is already readable on the server is to do it to images that aren't hitting the cloud.
Or to eventually e2e encrypt all of iCloud. Or because Apple doesn't want to decrypt images server-side if they don't have to. Etc.
But the point is that currently, only photos that will be uploaded to iCloud Photo Library will be scanned. Making definitive points about possible future scenarios isn't particularly insightful, especially because the current system isn't much of a precondition of those scenarios.
None of this is happening "currently"; both of these claims are speculation about future changes based on Apple's statements.
Apple has made 3 announcements and released one research paper and held a press conference. Now we have to reconstruct what is likely going to be the truth from their carefully crafted statements.
Yes, and I mean the same system, based on the same statements from Apple.
Clientside scanning will happen even without iCloud. Apple expects and pressures all users to use iCloud, defaults it to on without interaction or consent, and does not test the non-iCloud paths very well. You can't even setup a homepod to be a simple wifi speaker without iCloud.
It's an accurate and objective description of the situation; there is no opinion involved. If you think facts are over the top, perhaps the situation is actually outrageous.
