I previously wrote that Apple scans uploaded iCloud content for child abuse imagery. Apple’s privacy officer confirmed this. Now a search warrant re

Search Warrant Reveals Apple Scanning Emails for Child Abuse Images

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2021-08-07 20:30:04

I previously wrote that Apple scans uploaded iCloud content for child abuse imagery. Apple’s privacy officer confirmed this. Now a search warrant reveals that the company is also scanning emails (via Forbes).

Apple uses an automated system to scan emails. One such popular system is PhotoDNA, although it’s unknown if Apple uses that service. It creates a hash out of images and compares the hash to a database filled with hashes of known child pornography. When the system detects a hash, it gets flagged for manual review.

When we intercept the email with suspected images they do not go to the intended recipient. This individual … sent 8 emails that we intercepted. [Seven] of those emails contained 12 images. All 7 emails and images were the same, as was the recipient email address. The other email contained 4 images which were different than the 12 previously mentioned. The intended recipient was the same,” the Apple workers’ comments read.

“I suspect what happened was he was sending these images to himself and when they didn’t deliver he sent them again repeatedly. Either that or he got word from the recipient that they did not get delivered.

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