Apple Limits AirDrop in China After It Was Used to Spread Protest Messages
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The new restriction came after activists in China used the feature to sidestep censorship.
Apple has restricted the use of AirDrop on iPhones in China, after protesters used the wireless file-sharing feature to secretly spread messages criticizing the Chinese authorities.
Chinese users who updated their iPhone’s version to iOS 16.1.1, released Wednesday, will be able to use the feature to receive files from strangers only for 10 minutes at a time.
Previously, the setting to accept files from “everyone” had no time limit. Now, after ten minutes, the device will fall back to accepting files from contacts only, Chinese outlets have reported.
The feature is one of few relatively untraceable methods of sharing digital files in China, where social media platforms and even private messaging apps are scrutinized by moderators and the government’s censorship apparatus.
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