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As expected, a "won't anyone think of the children?" activist is already making the argument that because Apple, foolishly, has an algorithm which hides explicit content in private chats (a feature no one ever asked for), it means it is equally reasonable to build the Chat Stasi.

I could see this coming from a light year away. Disingenuous, yet predictable.

It's such a one dimensional argument and it's hard to articulate just how bad it is.

If I were to cover some points:

1) Someone should have control over what runs on their devices. Programs should not be acting against their interests or without their consent.

In a way, that is the entire philosophy of the free software movement.

2) There is far more room for things to go wrong with a Chat Stasi program, in contrast, the most that might go wrong here is an image being erroneously hidden (with a prompt to make it visible) when it shouldn't be, or vice versa.

3) Apple doing a silly thing doesn't mean they should do another bad thing.

4) Someone doesn't have to use iMessage. They could use another program. Viva la free market.

5) Every argument which applies to the Chat Stasi equally applies to it here.

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