Apple reneging on strong promises

Apple evidently thinks we’re as daft as their messaging has been, regarding their invasive privacy intrusion plans. No one, except a corporate or political mouthpiece could hand you a moldy piece of bread, proclaim its wonderfully delicious and expect us to believe it. Yet, that is exactly what Apple is attempting to do. Of course stamping out child pornography is a worthy goal, but invading my privacy and reneging on years of promises is not.

In 2016, Apple chose to hold firm against government’s demands and won praise from customers, security researchers, and privacy conscious consumers alike. Stating in an open letter, Tim Cook said in part:

Compromising the security of our personal information can ultimately put our personal safety at risk. That is why encryption has become so important to all of us.

For many years, we have used encryption to protect our customers’ personal data because we believe it’s the only way to keep their information safe. We have even put that data out of our own reach, because we believe the contents of your iPhone are none of our business.

– Tim Cook, Apple CEO (2016)

And yet, 5 years later Apple would have us believe that compromising personal information and placing themselves in contact with our personal data is the right thing to do? It is not.

But the real issue here isn’t about child pornography. Ask yourself if you believe governments around the world would not demand this technology be used for other purposes? Once the door is cracked I don’t believe that governments could resist such an opportunity. The EFF agrees (and here).

If freedom is the lifeblood of our society and culture. Privacy is it’s beating heart. Do not accept government, or corporate intrusion into our most private and encompassing places. Tell Apple, and those supporting this bad plan to stop this madness.

As for me, I’ve been an iPhone user since iPhone 4. My wife and I had plans to upgrade to iPhone 13 next year, and I had been planning to purchase my first MAC Book Air when the M2 models become available. But those plans are changed now. I won’t be upgrading hardware, and won’t be upgrading to iOS 15 when its released either. I’m forced to accept potential security vulnerabilities in order to avoid known privacy intrusion by a company I thought had my back.