Long term readers will know my position on the UK Conservative Government’s Online Safety Bill – I like the idea, I like some part and hate other. But I object to “to catch the paedophiles” or “to catch the terrorists” lines that are often used to get us all onboard. That is not a reasoned argument for all of us to give up our privacy and open ourselves to police and government surveillance.
Apple has some experience when it comes to child sexual abuse materials when it tried to scan photos in the iCloud for such material – which did not work out too well.
Now Apple is speaking out about the way the new law will compromise ordinary citizen’s privacy – by compromising the integrity of end to end encryption (E2EE):
Apple opposes UK Online Safety Bill’s ‘spy clause’ • The Register
Smart crooks will opt out of using compromised communication channel – opting probably to go old school – the paedophiles will go back to leaving coded messages on public toilet walls!
There is good news though
The UK government has signed up with 68 other nations through the UN to call on the private sector to do more to remove CSAM from the internet:
UK unites 68 other states in joint call to action against online child abuse (therecord.media)
Read the articles and make your own mind up.
Clive Catton MSc (Cyber Security) – by-line and other articles
Smart Thinking Solutions supports this UK Government initiative:
Let’s stop abuse together – Stop Abuse Together (campaign.gov.uk)
Further Reading
Online Safety Bill articles (Smart Thinking Solutions)
Online Safety Act publications – Parliamentary Bills – UK Parliament
Apple Kills Its Plan to Scan Your Photos for CSAM. Here’s What’s Next | WIRED
