Apple’s Photo-Scanning Tech Explained

Apple’s Photo-Scanning Tech Explained

Recently, Apple revealed some new technical measures in Messages, iCloud, Siri, and search that are meant to protect children from sexual abuse online. Apple says that its new blend of on-device and cloud-based processing will strike a balance between user safety and user privacy. But some cryptography experts aren't convinced, and worry that the measures could open the door to other privacy breaches and government surveillance.

This week on Gadget Lab, WIRED senior cybersecurity writer Andy Greenberg joins us to talk about how Apple's tech works, and the company's delicate balancing act between safety and privacy.

Show Notes:

Read Andy’s story about Apple’s new tech.

Recommendations:

Andy recommends the book Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe, and also the new Mortal Kombat movie. Lauren recommends Vauhini Vara’s story “Ghosts” in Believer Magazine. Mike recommends Brian Raftery’s “Gene and Roger” series of The Ringer’s The Big Picture podcast.

Andy Greenberg can be found on Twitter @a_greenberg. Lauren Goode is @LaurenGoode. Michael Calore is @snackfight. Bling the main hotline at @GadgetLab. The show is produced by Boone Ashworth (@booneashworth). Our theme music is by Solar Keys.

If you have feedback about the show, or just want to enter to win a $50 gift card, take our brief listener survey here.

Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Jaksot(430)

Who's Elon Musk’s Biggest Fan? His Mom

Who's Elon Musk’s Biggest Fan? His Mom

She sits in on his business meetings, defends him on X, and travels to give talks about how she raised him, the richest man in the world — but who is Elon Musk’s mother? Today on the show, we learn al...

20 Maalis 202528min

DOGE is Doing the Opposite of Government Auditing

DOGE is Doing the Opposite of Government Auditing

WIRED’s Vittoria Elliot joins Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond to discuss what real government auditors think of DOGE’s work, and what happened during DOGE’s first six weeks. Articles mentione...

18 Maalis 202529min

What's Lost When the Human Drivers Are Gone?

What's Lost When the Human Drivers Are Gone?

If you’ve spent time in San Francisco or Phoenix in the last couple years, chances are you’ve probably seen a self-driving car making its way around. This week, we’re joined by WIRED’s Aarian Marshall...

13 Maalis 202539min

Why Elon Musk Has Wanted the Government Shutdown

Why Elon Musk Has Wanted the Government Shutdown

WIRED Senior Editor Leah Feiger joins Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond to discuss some breaking news about why Elon Musk would want a government shutdown. Plus, WIRED’s Emily Mullin joins for ...

12 Maalis 202523min

Do We Need To Have More Babies?

Do We Need To Have More Babies?

Silicon Valley is obsessed with solutionism. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that when it comes to a declining birth rate some of the valley’s elite have a clear answer: more babies at all costs. ...

6 Maalis 202531min

Elon’s Twitter Playbook at DOGE

Elon’s Twitter Playbook at DOGE

WIRED’s Director of Business & Industry Zoë Schiffer and Katie Drummond, Global Editorial Director, talk about credit card freezes and AI technology at DOGE, and how each is a move from the Twitter pl...

4 Maalis 202520min

Deepfakes, Tesla Backlash and Chips Chips Chips

Deepfakes, Tesla Backlash and Chips Chips Chips

We’ve been so busy at WIRED, covering politics, science, culture, security, gear and so much more, that this week we decided to do something a little different – we’re talking through three stories fr...

27 Helmi 202536min

WIRED News Update: DOGE’s Many Conflicts of Interest & Elon’s Weekend Email Chaos

WIRED News Update: DOGE’s Many Conflicts of Interest & Elon’s Weekend Email Chaos

WIRED’s Deputy Editor Brian Barrett joins Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond to talk about the many conflicts of interests within DOGE which are popping up across the federal government, includi...

26 Helmi 202522min