Apple Rolls Out AirDrop Restrictions Worldwide, Following Debut In China

About a month ago, Apple faced backlash in China when it suddenly limited the usage of its AirDrop feature to just 10 minutes, automatically switching users’ visibility from ‘everyone’ to ‘contacts only’. 

A report from CNN posits that the technology giant implemented the measure as a response to the growing anti-government protests in China, at which iPhone users were using AirDrop as a way to disseminate information. 

Now, to make everywhere in the world a level playing field, Apple will be tightening the security on AirDrop for all users globally, announcing that the change will occur with the forthcoming iOS 16.2 updates. 

With this change, users will only be allowed to share or receive AirDrop files on the ‘everyone’ setting for just 10 minutes, before the option reverts to ‘contacts only’. 

While activists, especially those in China, may be dismayed that this will quell their attempts to recruit protesters or pass out information, others are looking forward to the extra security barriers, as per TechCrunch. 

There had been a recent report of a passenger AirDropping a naked photograph of themselves on a Southwest Airlines flight, going so far as for the pilot to threaten to land the plane if it didn’t stop. 

The new update was released to developers on beta this week, and it will be rolled out to all supported devices soon. 

[via Engadget and TechCrunch, cover image via Nikkimeel | Dreamstime.com]