As I see people straining to defend Apple, coming up with all types of reasons about on-device image checking will not be abused or expanded, about how people shouldn't really expect to not be scanned, I can't help but just think of Apple's own words and current public position on privacy.

Here's their privacy page: https://www.apple.com/privacy/

First sentence:

"Privacy is a fundamental human right."

Apple has adopted this as a "core value". Their executives use this exact phrasing.

It is an extraordinary claim. They don't say, "We think privacy is important". They claim it as a fundamental human right (i.e. applying to everyone, unconditionally) and wrap themselves in the banner of it.

How anyone can square that with statement, that self-described "core value" with their recent on-device image checking announcement, I really have no idea.