Apple has introduced a limitation, in China, of the AirDrop capabilities of its iPhones, which are used in particular by opponents of power to share files. The system allows you to quickly exchange images, documents and videos between Apple devices, coming both from all iPhone owners in the vicinity (by default), and only from the contacts registered by the handset.
The latest version of the operating system iOS 16.1.1, launched on Wednesday, November 9, limits the duration during which an iPhone owner can receive files from people who are not part of his family contacts to ten minutes in the country. To continue receiving files in this mode beyond this period, the user must have reactivated this option in the seconds preceding the fateful delay. This complicates matters for critics of power who would like to discreetly disseminate documents or information around them.
Emoji removed
This development comes after protesters used AirDrop to broadcast images opposing leader Xi Jinping and the government: the use of AirDrop to circumvent China’s very strict censorship has been well documented over the past three years, and even recently. .
At this stage, it only affects iPhones sold in China. Apple did not explain why the change was introduced in the country, but said it plans to roll it out globally within the next year to combat unsolicited file sharing.
The Cupertino (California) giant has in the past been the subject of criticism regretting that it modifies the functions of its iPhone to please Chinese power. In 2019, Apple removed the Taiwanese flag emoji, the island Beijing claims it regains full control of, for its users in Hong Kong and Macau. The company has also removed virtual private network (VPN) applications it routinely used to evade Beijing regulators. Many of Apple’s services are also inaccessible in China, the world’s largest telecommunications market, such as Apple TV +, the iTunes Store, paid podcasts, Apple Books, and Apple Arcade.
Social malaise
Central power is subject to growing criticism stemming from social malaise. In October, anti-government slogans appeared in several cities, including the capital, before the 20th centuryAnd Party congress. During the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, activists used AirDrop to broadcast their demands. Beijing has also chosen to maintain its “zero Covid” policy, which provides for a strict regime of confinements, tests and quarantines as soon as some cases arise, which arouses distrust among the population.
AirDrop has also been the subject of controversy outside of China since its launch in 2013 for inappropriate uses. Last year there were numerous reports of delayed or canceled air flights after passengers shared false terrorist alerts or pornographic images with their neighbors.
