Apple Imposes 10-Minute Limits For AirDropping In China

Apple’s latest 16.1.1 iOS update brings about a curious change to users in China: It has limited the usage of the AirDrop feature to just 10 minutes.
 
iPhones are factory-set to allow ‘Contacts Only’ when using AirDrop, and users can change it to include ‘Everyone’ if they wish. However, the new update will switch the option to ‘Everyone for 10 minutes’, removing the tool’s ability to stay on indefinitely. CNN’s Beijing Bureau confirmed this new upgrade.
 
According to the report, this was done in response to anti-government protestors sharing leaflets during a protest on October 13 via the AirDrop function. However, CNN also mentions that the Chinese media site, Sohu.com, notes that the modification protects people from receiving unwanted files in public, such as when traveling on the subway.
 
With that being said, the update will not affect iPhones bought overseas and used in China.
 
PC Mag points out that this isn’t the first time that Apple has complied with governments. Previously, it had removed the Taiwanese flag emoji from iPhones in Hong Kong. Most recently, it has agreed to remove the Lightning port from its devices sold in Europe and replace them with USB-C cables.
 
 
 
[via CNN and PC Mag, Photo 228949818 © Vladyslav Yushynov | Dreamstime.com]