Do they plan to scan phones themselves or the files backed up to iCloud?

A recent Gizmodo article summed it up like this:

According to Federighi, the answer is both yes and no. The scanning occurs during the iCloud upload process. Some of it happens on your phone, some of it happens in the cloud.

Even if it was just server side on iCloud that's still not okay. Here's an analogy. When someone rents a self storage unit terms akin to these are pretty standard:

1. You agree not to store hazardous materials

2. We can enter your unit if we need to for maintenance or an emergency, e.g. to fix a leak or fight a fire.

Ok. Sure. Whatever. Heck, if my stuff is burning or getting flooded I want you to go in there and save the day.

Apple's version adds:

• Whenever you put stuff into your unit stop by the front desk so we can make a list of descriptions (hashes) and UPC codes (meta data) of anything you put in there. We'll do a routine check against this other list that the government gave us; for everybody's peace of mind. It's a list describing things only a criminal would ever own.

Uhm...okay. What's on the list?

• Sorry, at least part of the list is secret. Besides it's changing all the time.

Oh. OK. Well I'm sure I don't keep contraband or anything. Honestly, I'm pretty boring with nothing to hide. If this helps track down terrorists and sex traffickers how bad can it be? And anyway it's not like courts hand out warrants lightly...

• Oh, it's more like if the government asks for someone's list we hand it over if we think we should. After all, they might need to run it against their much more complete, much more secret lists.

Don't they need a warrant or subpoena or something for that!?

• Not at all, it's our list not yours. But your privacy is paramount. We absolutely, solemnly swear not to hand it over unless the government says we should.