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Comment by Clubber | Hacker News Reader

>Both are equally invasive and both can only be avoided by refusing to use the cloud.

Technically Apple can do a scan regardless of wether or not you posted it to iCloud if they so desired to, or were ordered to.

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Technically, Google can sell the entire trove of data they have collected about you to anyone willing to write them a check.

Do you think it's likely they will do so?

The difference is you don't put your data in Google's cloud, they can't sell it. With this Apple change on your local device, you don't have any recourse other than get a different phone.

Also, Google sells your data already don't they? Probably not a great counterpoint.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/2021/05/07/google-selling-user...

Again, the only thing different here is that when you upload a photo to the cloud, Apple scans it on device before the file is uploaded, while Google scans it on their server after it is uploaded.

Nothing is happening to files you don't attempt to upload to the cloud.

Also, if Google is selling everyone's data to third party data brokers, it's news to me.

>Nothing is happening to files you don't attempt to upload to the cloud.

I am aware, but because the scanner now exists on the device, they have the capability of scanning images on your device regardless of whether or not you upload it to the cloud if they so choose to OR ARE ORDERED TO. Do you not see the difference in capability?

“Google has the capability to upload images from your device and could choose to upload every image IF ORDERED TO.”

By that logic, Google is every bit as vulnerable to being ordered to scan all files on Android devices.

So you are saying Google can access your device at any time and pull all data from it, even if you didn't upload it to their servers!? No thanks on either. I'm not sure "other companies can do it too," is a great counterpoint either.

This is classic what-aboutism, yes they are both equally bad scenarios. Apple is just one-step closer with capability already deployed.

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