Apple has announced that it will start scanning your personal files on your devices for "Child Sexual Abuse Material", as identified by its cryptographic hash. It will apparently match hashes against a database of hash codes of "known" bad content distributed by some sort of well-meaning activist organization. A match will apparently trigger an automatic disabling of one's Apple account, just for starters.
Not creepy at all, right? Hey don't worry, it's not like political activists are trying to stop the spread of right wing hate memes via the exact same image-hash-code matching technology. Oh wait.
But it's okay, you're safe, you're a conformist, you would never snicker at that icky frog meme. Yet, yet, yet, don't be too comfortable. You might have enemies. Enemies who want you to lose your accounts, online presence, or even livelihood, and are too smart to simply send you one of these Verboten bits of digital horror straight.
What if an enemy were cunning enough to mount a cryptographic collision attack by crafting a brand new file so that its hash matches any on these designated bad-bad-bad lists? It just takes some time & possible brief rental of cloud computing resources. They can create an innocent looking get-rich-quick document, cute kitten video, or social issue awareness email. Something so good that you'd be tempted to save & forward it.
A few days later, Apple's (and other Big Tech's) surveillance software detects it as a hit, and automatically accuses you of abusing feelings or children or whatever. Accounts shut down, scarlet letter issued, literal police reporting can all come next. Heck, your friends and colleagues may also get flagged by that kitten video you shared, and be rather miffed at you. Depending on whether you can get through to a Big Tech support phone staff, you may or may not be able to clear your name.
Good luck! What could possibly go wrong!
Friends, don't be sad. Don't be disappointed. Don't expect better. They will never fess up that they did wrong. People in power don't do things like that, because they don't have to. People who obeyed people in power don't do things like that, because they don't feel responsible. People in media who connected the former to the latter don't do things like that, because they're despicable.
They will not apologize when the vaccines fail.
They will not apologize when side-effect risks become widely known.
They will not apologize when they realize vaccine mandates are cruel and unnecessary.
They will not apologize when "non medical" masks are proven useless and counterproductive.
They will not apologize when the curve flattens but they don't let up.
They will not apologize when goalposts just don't stop moving.
They will not apologize when it becomes obvious that children never were vulnerable.
They will not apologize about what they have done to two years of young people's education and social life.
They will not apologize to people they taught to hate and fear their friends.
They will not apologize for terrorizing children with accusations of killing grandma.
They will not apologize for terrorizing grandma with accusations of killing children.
They will not apologize to people losing access to fitness & health facilities.
They will not apologize to businessmen for two years of unemployment.
They will not apologize to jurisdictions that got it right all along.
They will not apologize to those whom they demonized because of dissent.
They will not apologize for overstating their own confidence and overreaching their just powers.
I know they will not apologize because most of the above have already happened, and they haven't apologized. But do not despair, you were right, and that needs to be enough. Hang in there. And to those friends who obeyed, but are starting to see the contradictions, starting to realize you've been played, welcome. No grudges. Let's clean up together.
