Comment by onetimeusename

yes, it is a database of hashes but I don't know if the hashes are public information per se although I am sure copies of it are floating around. But I am referring to the images that the hashes are generated from. There is no verification of these that I know of. No one would want to do that and if you did you might be breaking the law.

The law requires companies like Google and Apple to report when they find CSAM and afiact they would generate hashes and add to this database if new material is found.

I don't know if there is any oversight in this. It's all done behind closed doors so you just have to trust that the people creating the hashes aren't doing anything nefarious or mistaken and that's a separate point apart from what others have said on here that you should be able to trust your devices you own to not be informants against you.