Apple’s AI Photo Analysis: Opt-Out or Embrace the Enhanced Search?
Apple’s new Enhanced Visual Search feature, enabled by default in iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1, analyzes photos for landmarks using on-device machine learning and homomorphic encryption before sending encrypted data to Apple servers for identification. This process, while claimed to protect user privacy through encryption and differential privacy, sparked controversy due to its lack of explicit user consent and potential for metadata upload before opt-out is possible. Critics argue this approach, despite theoretical privacy protections, is problematic due to its unilateral deployment and lack of transparency from Apple. Concerns remain regarding the potential for data leakage, despite Apple’s assertions to the contrary.
John Q. Hosedrinker