From a read of the expert opinions on the CSAM topic when this blew up. From that, it seemed like you had to be all in, or keeping out of active CSAM scanning/monitoring for legal reasons. They noted the match volume and came to the same conclusion.
With the attention I don't see how Apple can delay taking some action here. A new external liability that can be attacked in different ways. Either they need to level up the CSAM scanning server-side to increase compliance, or they need to reimplement the client-side approach. The latter approach is probably much better from their perspective for various reasons.
Ultimately, they might have been better giving this a lower profile overall and effectively have sought public attention of law enforcement to provide some cover. The authorities are going to get this in some fashion eventually.
With the attention I don't see how Apple can delay taking some action here. A new external liability that can be attacked in different ways. Either they need to level up the CSAM scanning server-side to increase compliance, or they need to reimplement the client-side approach. The latter approach is probably much better from their perspective for various reasons.
Ultimately, they might have been better giving this a lower profile overall and effectively have sought public attention of law enforcement to provide some cover. The authorities are going to get this in some fashion eventually.