Encryption during transit and rest really don't count as encryption, at least not in this context. Apple can decrypt them time to do things like scan them for CSAM. I assumed I wouldn't need to state the obvious.
And yes, Apple have been scanning uploaded photos since about 2019. At least, that's when they modified their terms and conditions to allow it.
The author of that article way off. First, his evidence is that an email attachment triggered a report, and we already know email is the only data stored unencrypted in iCloud. Email scanning is the most plausible explanation for the ToS update.
If Apple were scanning iCloud Photos, one would expect there to be hundreds of thousands if not millions of reports to NCMEC (last year Facebook reported 20 million). Reporting is compulsory, the information is public, and Apple reported 265 last year. Do the math. Apple is not scanning Photos.
And yes, Apple have been scanning uploaded photos since about 2019. At least, that's when they modified their terms and conditions to allow it.
https://www.macobserver.com/analysis/apple-scans-uploaded-co...
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