Rights groups urge Apple not to deploy mass photo-scanning tool

More than 90 human-rights groups from around the world condemned Apple’s plans to scan users’ devices for material depicting child abuse (CSAM).

The Center for Democracy and Technology published an open letter, in which it urged the corporation to abandon the use of the tool. In their view, the tech giant could usher in “censorship, surveillance, and persecution on a global scale.”

Rights groups have expressed concerns about the accuracy of Apple’s technology. They say such algorithms tend to mislabel artworks, health information, educational resources, propaganda messages and other images. There is also a risk of government interference, the organisations say.

“As soon as this capability is built into Apple devices, the company and its competitors will face immense pressure — and possibly legal requirements — from governments around the world to scan photos not only for CSAM but also for other images that the government deems undesirable,” the letter says.

Rights groups fear that authorities could pressure the company to scan devices in search of “terrorist and extremist materials,” or even unflattering images of politicians.

“Apple will lay the groundwork for censorship, surveillance, and persecution worldwide,” they concluded.

Back in August, Apple described the tool for scanning users’ photos for CSAM.

In mid-August, the company promised not to turn the algorithm for detecting illegal content into a surveillance tool.

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