Apple Visual Search Feature & lack of explicit user consent

[Pyception]

------------>Selling Point<------------
Designed to identify landmarks and places of interest in users' photos

------------>Major Concerns<------------
Enabled by default, without explicit user consent
Apple failed to adequately communicate
Data is uploaded before users have a chance to opt out
Feature applies to all photos, not just those uploaded to iCloud

------------>How to disable<------------

• On iOS/iPadOS: Settings > Apps > Photos
• On Mac: Photos app > Settings > General

Full Report here

Apple opts everyone into having their Photos analyzed by AI

Homomorphic-based Enhanced Visual Search is so privacy-preserving, iPhone giant activated it without asking

www.theregister.com

 

[Futureized]

Arrived with iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1 on October 28, 2024.

You can turn off Enhanced Visual Search at any time on your iOS or iPadOS device by going to Settings > Apps > Photos.
On Mac, open Photos and go to Settings > General

Playing with user data is everyone loves too.. big/small/medium

 

[ibose]

Its forced opt in to get users to use the feature. Most would not even be aware or even care as long as it's a cool.
Even Android has the similar circle to search feature .. available in some flagships. Not sure if it's turned on by default though.

 

[mr824]

It's the half-eaten Apple, always. Nothing unusual.