The post iOS 18: Apple sends photos to its servers without consent by Beatrice Bode appeared first on BASIC thinking. You can always stay up to date with our newsletter.
Apple is currently being criticized for an iOS 18 function. For “advanced visual search,” the company sends photo data from users to its servers. The problem: User consent is automatically activated on iOS and macOS devices. The backgrounds.
An iOS 18 function is currently being criticized: Apple seems to be sharing data illegally via the “advanced visual search”. The feature has been enabled by default in the Photos app since the update to iOS 18.2 and gives the device permission to share photo data with Apple. The problem: Users don’t have to actively agree.
Users can actually use “Advanced Visual Search” to search their images in the library for specific locations, landmarks or other significant objects. To do this, the iPhone compares the photos with a global index on Apple servers.
iOS 18: Apple shares photo data without consent
The company claims that the necessary transmission is encrypted and anonymized in order to protect the privacy of the users. However, the developer Jeff Johnson has commented on this a blog post expressed critically.
It was only by chance that he stumbled upon the activated function. However, he never requested such an “enrichment” of the photos stored locally on the device. In his opinion, Apple made the decision to process data “silently and without consent”. He writes:
From my perspective, computer privacy is quite simple: if something happens exclusively on my computer, it is private, but if my computer sends data to the computer manufacturer, it is not private, or at least not completely private. So the only way to ensure data protection is not to send data from the device.
Matthew D. Green, a cryptographer, also explained in a postthat he would have liked the opportunity to “learn something about architecture [der Funktion] to read and think about how many leaks there are in this system.”
Instead, he only found out about it in time to see that he had already given permission to share the data, but without actively consenting. He criticizes:
This is not how you launch a privacy product with good intentions, but rather how you sneak under the radar while everyone is distracted.
Not the first criticism of Apple’s data protection
“Advanced visual search” is part of the iOS 18 and macOS 15 version from September 16, 2024. The overview of new functions at the time did not mention that consent to share photo data is given automatically.
Just one technical document on machine learning and homophoric encryption on October 24, 2024 gave a brief explanation of the function. However, few users understand these notices and the information they contain.
The criticism of “Advanced Visual Search” is not the first incident of this kind from Apple. There was already a similar example in 2019. At that time, the company evaluated recorded Siri commands from users. One followed later official apology for processing unsolicited voice recordings.
How to disable the iOS 18 feature
If you are already using the current iOS 18 version, you have already given your consent to share the photo data for the “advanced visual search”. The function was then applied to all of your previously saved photos.
However, you can disable the setting for future recordings. To do this you go to the iPhone settings to the rider “Apps“. Under “Photos“ you can now scroll down to the bottom and Regulator “Advanced visual search” pull to the left.
The current debate shows once again that users lack tools to control the data traffic of individual iOS apps. This has a negative impact on self-determination. Apple has not yet officially commented on Johnson’s allegations.
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The post iOS 18: Apple sends photos to its servers without consent by Beatrice Bode appeared first on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard.
As a Tech Industry expert, I find it concerning that Apple is sending photos to its servers without user consent in iOS 18. This raises serious privacy and security questions, as users should have full control over their personal data and what is being sent to external servers. Apple has always positioned itself as a champion of user privacy, so this move is disappointing and goes against their own principles.
It is crucial for companies like Apple to be transparent about their data collection practices and obtain explicit consent from users before sending any sensitive information to their servers. Failure to do so not only violates user trust but also puts their data at risk of being accessed or misused by unauthorized parties.
I hope Apple takes swift action to address this issue and ensures that user privacy is prioritized in future software updates. It is essential for tech companies to uphold ethical standards and respect user privacy rights to maintain trust and credibility in the industry.
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