Apple is delaying its plan to use neuralMatchLinks to an external site. technology to scan US iPhones for child pornography and child abuse. Currently, Apple uses end-to-end encryption to ensure users’ privacy. Apple does report child sex abuse found on the Cloud to law enforcement, but Apple never has scanned users’ phones to detect child pornography and abuse. Also, Apple plans on scanning encrypted messages on iMessage for sexually explicit images.
Law enforcement and child protection agencies support this new initiative. But privacy advocates and some researchers do not. Some worry that people could be framed by being sent images they know nothing about, alerting law enforcement and leading to possible arrests. What if foreign governments used Apple’s algorithm and this technology to search for political dissidents or protesters? Do people have the right to keep the information on their phones private? What if the AI algorithm decides something is pornographic, while others do not (baby bathtub photos or art)?
We still don’t know if Apple will go ahead with neuralMatch technology. In a two page essay, using one of the ethical frameworks (Utilitarianism/consequentialism, Duty based morality, Rights-based morality, New Natural law, Floridi’s Macroethics, Principlism or some philosopher’s variation of this framework) discussed in chapter one, take a position on Apple using or not using this new technology. Research neuralMatch. Ensure that you utilize APA formatting for your 2-page essay, including APA citations for resources used. See the Case Rubric for pertinent grading information.
https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/apple-delays-plan-to-scan-u-s-iphones-for-images-of-child-sex-abuse/#:~:text=Apple%20is%20indefinitely%20delaying%20plans,by%20hackers%20and%20intrusive%20governments.
Make sure you include:
An explanation of the ethical framework that supports your opinion?
Who are the stakeholders?
What are the important ethical issues that this technology must address?
What are the benefits of this technology? Wouldn’t detecting child pornography and abuse be an example of “for the greater good”? Why or why not?
