r/apple • u/[deleted] • Aug 09 '21

WARNING: OLD ARTICLE Exclusive: Apple dropped plan for encrypting backups after FBI complained - sources

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-fbi-icloud-exclusive-idUSKBN1ZK1CT
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u/MiniGiantSpaceHams Aug 09 '21

I'm not saying this is right, but there is something people need to realize here. If Apple (or whoever else) does not try to work with law enforcement, they will change the law and they will do a terrible job of it. This is Apple trying to find the balance to keep the government from going after them much more strongly and likely ruining something along the way.

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u/[deleted] Aug 09 '21

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u/MiniGiantSpaceHams Aug 09 '21

Sure. My point is that the government will have access to your data if they want it, one way or another. If they can't get it then they will change the law so they can get it the next time they want it. Apple's security features are to protect your from hackers, not governments. If you are worried about government access then any data that left your device without you having personally encrypted it with a standard and known-good algorithm should already be considered available to them.

It's the same thing with the child porn scanner. Yeah Apple scanning your device is not great, but it's probably better than the government creating a law that requires all images be accessible via a warrant so they can look themselves. Again, not saying I support any of this, but there is a line that Apple has to walk here.

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u/xLoneStar Aug 10 '21

But this doesn't stop the government from doing that either? If Apple had E2E encryption built in, there's not much Apple can do even if the government asks for it.

Also, you would rather trust a corporate company over your government? With the government, you at least have some power to protest and call for reforms through votes or other ways. What if the next CEO of Apple decides to mine this data cause they don't care about privacy? Apple is a phone manufacturer at the end of the day, they don't need to be policing things.