Apple has imposed restrictions on its iPhones sold in China for sharing files between devices, a feature that could potentially be used to bypass censorship and disseminate information deemed hostile or critical of power.
The AirDrop feature of an iPhone allows unlimited sharing of all types of content, including photos and videos, with a nearby Apple device.
From Wednesday an update on the phones of the American group sold in China automatically deactivates this function after 10 minutes.
This restriction greatly reduces the likelihood of unexpectedly receiving files from strangers.
The AirDrop function could previously be used to transmit messages deemed sensitive and protected from censorship.
In particular, it was used in public places to convey slogans critical of the ruling Communist Party, following a rare demonstration in Beijing last month.
Banners hostile to President Xi Jinping were then briefly hung on a bridge in the capital, just before a Communist Party congress.
This defiant gesture was surprising in a city then crossed by security forces and equipped with countless surveillance cameras.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for an explanation from the AFP.
The brand’s products sold outside of China do not appear to be affected by these restrictions on the latest iOS 16.1.1 update.
Some Internet users on Thursday welcomed a positive measure on the social network Weibo aimed at “significantly reducing” the “harassment” of strangers.
Others mocked Apple’s CEO.
“Is Tim Cook a member of the Communist Party?” a surfer asked ironically.
China closely monitors its Internet. Censors eliminate content that portrays state policy in a bad light or that could create turmoil.
Many foreign media sites are also not available without the use of VPN-type bypass software.
In 2017, the American giant was harshly criticized for removing this software from its application store in China, at the request of the authorities.
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