At what point would you consider it "scanning the device"? What if they start scanning messages? Browsing history? Downloads? Where do you draw the line?

Do you think they are scanning the device, or just the photos being uploaded?

This isn’t some ambiguous case that needs to be addressed philosophically. They aren’t scanning anything other than the photos being uploaded.

I don't think the distinction matters.

Why not? Don’t you think people should understand the difference?

People do understand the difference. It is only you who seem to be confused about the easily understand words that's people are using.

When people say that the device is being scanned for pictures, they know what that means. So it is fine for them to say that the device is being scanned for pictures.

That isn’t what they are saying.