Apple’s Encryption Is Under Attack by a Mysterious Group

When a news website called WIRED first reported that Apple had sent a letter responding to demands from an anti-child-exploitation group called Heat Initiative, they had one big question: What the hell is Heat Initiative? An investigation by the Intercept now provides some clues.

According to the Intercept, the group is funded by “dark-money donors” linked to billionaire Democrats. Sarah Gardner, who leads the group, refused to comment on Heat Initiative’s funding and said she disagrees with Apple’s “privacy-absolutist” approach. The group, which had virtually no online presence when Apple sent that letter, is now waging a high-profile campaign to force the company to do more to scan for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on users’ devices and iCloud storage, which would likely mean weakening encryption.

After Apple scrapped plans to scan images on users’ devices for CSAM amid widespread backlash, the company focused instead on tools known as Community Safety features for reporting CSAM. It also rolled out encrypted iCloud options. The company says it cannot meet Heat Initiative demands without compromising user privacy and security.

Source: Wired