January 5th 2025.
Recently, a new tool from Apple has caught the attention of privacy experts. This tool, called Enhanced Visual Search, allows users to search for landmarks and points of interest in their photos. However, there has been some concern about this feature as it requires sending photo data to Apple's servers. Some experts have raised concerns about the privacy implications of this, especially since it was introduced without informing or asking users.
It was discovered that this feature was automatically enabled for Mac and iPhone users just days after Christmas. This caused some alarm, and many immediately switched off the tool. By default, Enhanced Visual Search allows Apple to capture, encrypt and analyze parts of users' photos. This allows for key landmarks to be identified and made searchable. While some have noted that the feature encrypts the photos and image data, ensuring user privacy, others are still worried about its implications and the secretive way it was introduced.
One software developer, Jeff Johnson, expressed his frustration with the feature being enabled without his consent. For him, privacy in computing is simple - if something happens only on his computer, it is private. However, if data is sent to the manufacturer, it is not entirely private. He believes that the only way to guarantee privacy is to not send data off the device.
Matthew Green, a privacy expert and cryptography professor, also voiced his frustration with discovering the feature just two days before the New Year, only to find that it was already enabled on his phone. It was later revealed that the function had arrived with the latest updates for iOS and macOS, but it was not made known to the public until four days earlier.
In a document released by Apple defending the privacy of the feature, they stated that privacy is a fundamental human right and it is one of their top priorities. They also mentioned using on-device processing to minimize the amount of data shared with Apple or other entities. However, they do acknowledge that some on-device experiences may require server lookups for global knowledge. In these cases, they have implemented privacy-protecting technologies, such as homomorphic encryption, differential privacy, and technology to hide IP addresses.
Despite these measures, some are still critical of the feature, particularly the automatic opting-in of users without their knowledge. Software developer Michael Tsai pointed out that users cannot effectively opt out, even if they have already opted out of uploading photos to iCloud. He believes that while Apple is trying to be thoughtful about privacy, they are not living up to their own ideals.
For those who are concerned about their privacy, Enhanced Visual Search can be turned off on iOS and iPadOS devices by going to Settings > Apps > Photos. On Mac, users can open Photos and go to Settings > General. Apple has been approached for comment by various media outlets, including Metro.
In conclusion, while Apple has taken steps to protect user privacy with their Enhanced Visual Search feature, there are still concerns about the way it was introduced and the automatic opting-in of users. It is important for users to be aware of their options and make informed decisions about their privacy.
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