American human rights activists have demanded that Apple completely abandon plans to scan photos of iPhone owners. A statement has been posted on the website of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFP).
The nonprofit said in a statement that they are pleased that Apple has heeded the public's concerns. Activists cite the interests of clients, researchers, civil liberties organizations, human rights activists, LGBT people, youth and other ages. “However, the company must go further than just listening and completely abandon plans to install a backdoor in its encryption system,” the EFP said in a statement.
In their message, representatives of the organization accused Tim Cook's company of attempting to violate human rights and freedoms. According to EFP activists, the mechanism created by Apple poses a huge threat to the privacy and security of iPhone users. “He offers authoritarian governments a new mass surveillance system to spy on citizens,” the document says.
“This huge coalition will continue to demand that users' phones – both their messages and photos – are protected, and that the company fulfills its promise to ensure true privacy for its users,” the conclusion says.
In early fall, Apple announced that it was pausing its rollout of scanning iPhone user photos for child abuse in order to improve it. Apple's intention to introduce a new child protection mechanism became known in early August.
