Over 90 Organizations Demand Apple Abandon iPhone Surveillance Plans
A global coalition of more than 90 organizations publishes an open letter urging Apple to cancel proposed on-device scanning features. The group warns that these capabilities ultimately endanger children and compromise global digital privacy.
The Global Encryption Coalition leads a group of over 90 organizations in an open letter demanding that Apple abandon its plans to install surveillance software on iPhones, iPads, and other devices. Apple announces these features in August 2021 with the stated goal of protecting children and reducing the spread of child sexual abuse material. However, the coalition argues that this approach fundamentally undermines user privacy and creates dangerous new vulnerabilities.
The coalition highlights specific dangers in the proposed system, noting that the scan and alert feature in Messages poses a direct threat to vulnerable young people. LGBTQ+ youths with unsympathetic parents face particularly severe risks if their private conversations trigger automated alerts. Furthermore, the groups warn that building this infrastructure gives Apple a capability that authoritarian governments inevitably exploit.
By integrating CSAM hash scanning directly into its products, Apple sets a precedent that invites enormous pressure and potential legal mandates from governments worldwide. Once the scanning architecture exists, authorities will likely demand it be used to detect all sorts of images they deem objectionable, leading to widespread censorship. The broad international makeup of the coalition signing the letter underscores the global threat these plans pose to fundamental human rights.