I am not sure about the capacity of AI to take over the world and suppress humanity, but big tech certainly has the ability to spark a trade war. There is a fuss brewing right now over an encryption system known as Advanced Data Protection available on iPhones and other Apple devices. Several weeks ago, the Home Office demanded that Apple create a so-called ‘back door’ into the system to allow law enforcement agencies to access photographs and other users’ data, saying that it was necessary in order to tackle child abuse and other serious crime. Apple held out, refusing to compromise the privacy of its customers. Now it has responded by withdrawing the tool from UK users altogether. It means that not only will law enforcers find it easier to access users’ data, but so, too, might fraudsters.
It is easy to argue that child abusers must not be allowed to evade justice by being able to store photographs away from police investigators.
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