The issue here with Apple is that they want to move this type of scanning on-device. No one has really complained about them scanning for CSAM on iCloud.
The data is NOT e2ee in iCloud, there is literally no reason for them to move this scanning to on-device.
Some people say this, but the government doesn't just care about CSAM. They care about terrorism, human and drug trafficking, organized crime, gangs, fraud etc.
Unless Apple plans on expanding their system to detect those other things as well, I don't think CSAM detection alone is indicative of a clear path to E2EE. In fact, I see no evidence at all that indicates their intention of this project is to implement E2EE.
Here’s one problem with that idea: They would have to support scanning on the device for everything they are able to scan in the cloud today, in every country. Without changes, their current scanner would not do the trick (unless, of course, they’re lying about how it works).