Apple plans to expand AirDrop time limit to customers worldwide

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in General Discussion
Apple's 10-minute AirDrop setting time limit that it is testing in China will eventually expand to every user.

AirDrop
AirDrop


Late Wednesday night, a report revealed that Apple is adding a limitation for customers in China. In the iOS 16.1.1 update and iOS 16.2 developer beta, the company added a ten-minute restriction for sharing materials through AirDrop using the "Everyone" setting.

Apple allegedly cooperated with the Chinese government to impede protesters who may share anti-government materials. However, the company didn't announce the change or comment on it publicly.

Now though, Bloomberg says the new limitation will eventually roll out to all Apple customers worldwide.

Leaving AirDrop set to "Everyone" means that anyone within range of an Apple user can wirelessly send them files. The device will then present a pop-up window asking the user to accept or deny the file-sharing request.

Protesters have used the feature to their advantage in the past. For example, in 2019, protesters in Hong Kong reportedly used AirDrop to distribute digital pamphlets about an extradition bill.

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 21
    ihatescreennamesihatescreennames Posts: 1,904member
    Admittedly, I haven’t tried lately, but whenever I set AirDrop to “Contacts Only” it never worked. It only worked for me when set to “Everyone”. As such, I leave it on “Everyone” and don’t have issues. I use AirDrop frequently, too, and really like it. 
    indieshackdarkvaderlolliverappleinsideruserwatto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 21
    shaminoshamino Posts: 527member
    Before jumping into "Apple is taking orders from the Chinese government" theories, there may be other perfectly reasonable reasons for this change.  Like, for instance, the fact that AirDrop has been used as a medium for sending obscene images to strangers.  Some news stories:


    By preventing phones from being set to "Everyone" at all times, you block most of this, since the attackers will only be able to send to people who already have him in their contacts list.

    FWIW, I leave my devices set to "Contacts Only" precisely because I don't want any possibility of a stranger sending me anything.  I can share content with my friends and relatives, and that's plenty.
    edited November 2022 racerhomie3mike1gregoriusmFileMakerFellerAlex1NiOSDevSWEdewmewatto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 21
    danoxdanox Posts: 2,841member
    If AirDrop disappears for direct wired transfers between Mac’s, iPhone’s, and iPads only it would not be a lost. Works intermittently. 
  • Reply 4 of 21
    indieshackindieshack Posts: 328member
    ihatescreennames said:
    Admittedly, I haven’t tried lately, but whenever I set AirDrop to “Contacts Only” it never worked. It only worked for me when set to “Everyone”. As such, I leave it on “Everyone” and don’t have issues. I use AirDrop frequently, too, and really like it. 
    This, AirDrop’s been very useful over the years. I also need to set it to “everyone”
    darkvaderlolliverappleinsideruserwatto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 21
    darkvaderdarkvader Posts: 1,146member
    Something is useful?  Can't have that, gotta break it!  - Apple
    williamlondon
  • Reply 6 of 21
    darkvaderdarkvader Posts: 1,146member
    shamino said:
    Before jumping into "Apple is taking orders from the Chinese government" theories, there may be other perfectly reasonable reasons for this change.  Like, for instance, the fact that AirDrop has been used as a medium for sending obscene images to strangers.  Some news stories:


    By preventing phones from being set to "Everyone" at all times, you block most of this, since the attackers will only be able to send to people who already have him in their contacts list.

    FWIW, I leave my devices set to "Contacts Only" precisely because I don't want any possibility of a stranger sending me anything.  I can share content with my friends and relatives, and that's plenty.

    BUT THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!!

    Ugh.  Set yours to contacts, and leave the rest of us alone. 
    JanNLwilliamlondon
  • Reply 7 of 21
    Fidonet127Fidonet127 Posts: 507member
    I think this article needs more information on why this is being done and how it affects things. It isn’t just for the children or because of China said so. There is whole planes of people getting unwanted porn photos sent to them. I have mine sent to contacts only just because of these stories. 

    You make think or joke it is for the children but sending unwanted porn photos is sexual harassment. 
    shaminowatto_cobra
  • Reply 8 of 21
    roundaboutnowroundaboutnow Posts: 735member
    I've sent or received files via AirDrop to people that aren't in my contacts on a few occasions. I usually have my phone set to "contacts only" so I if I want to AirDrop but don't want to share contacts with someone or take the time to add a person to contacts right away, I'll temporarily set AirDrop to "everyone" then set it back to "contacts" when done. It's slightly inconvenient, but it takes longer to remember how to do it than actually doing it because I don't do it very often.

    I have a suggestion for how to do one-time AirDrop transfers with someone you know, but not enough to add to contacts: When choosing the one-time AirDrop option, whoever the sender is would have a QR code come up on their screen to show the intended recipient. This forces a direct face-to-face contact so the request is known not to be from some unseen stranger. The recipient would then take their phone and scan the QR code to accept the transfer. (I admit that I don't know if there is something under the hood that might prevent this idea from working).

    Edit: I just had another thought--if Airdrop is set to "everyone" but times out after 10 minutes that would seem to provide a small security benefit to help avoid inadvertently leaving "everyone" on. If there was a simple way to reset the 10 min countdown, that could work for those occasional connections too. China might not be too happy with the simple reset idea though...
    edited November 2022 FileMakerFellerAlex1Nwatto_cobra
  • Reply 9 of 21
    shaminoshamino Posts: 527member
    I've sent or received files via AirDrop to people that aren't in my contacts on a few occasions.
    ...
    I have a suggestion ...: When choosing the one-time AirDrop option, whoever the sender is would have a QR code come up on their screen to show the intended recipient. This forces a direct face-to-face contact so the request is known not to be from some unseen stranger. The recipient would then take their phone and scan the QR code to accept the transfer. (I admit that I don't know if there is something under the hood that might prevent this idea from working).
    If the sender is standing right there, he could just ask you to temporarily set your phone to "Everyone".  Then he can send to you.  Then you can turn it off again.  Just as effective and not as awkward as having to exchange QR codes.  Sure, someone else could slip in a porno pic during that short time, but it would be pretty unlikely.

    The proposed Apple change actually facilitates this, because it will revert after 10 minutes, so you don't need to remember to manually reset it.

    Or he could just send it as an e-mail or an iMessage.
    edited November 2022 fred1watto_cobra
  • Reply 10 of 21
    jovi.tiatiajovi.tiatia Posts: 9member
    Why are so many people automatically tapping accept on anonymous AirDrops?

    We already have some common sense surrounding spam phone calls, texts, emails, and postal mail. Don't open/answer them.

    If youre on a plane and you click accept out of curiosity, then don't be surprised when you find out whatever is inside that AirDrop!

    If your child has a smart device and accidentally (or non-accidentally) accesses porn, there are many ways that can happen besides AirDrop, and maybe you should figure that all out before deciding to give a smart device to your child for whatever educational or tracking or life-saving reasons. What is most important to you as a parent?

    If you're really worried about security/privacy, then yes, keep your AirDrop disabled or set to contacts only, among many other things you should be doing.

    As far as censorship in China, yes, def a thing, not just a theory, given so many concrete examples so far, such as Taiwan labeling requirements or the most recent Hong Kong protests. But let's not be ignorant hypocrites of the censorship and propoganda happening right here in the U.S. Yes, it's different that what happens in China, but still happens here. I'm sure many people in power here would like the 10 min rule applied here to discourage protestors as well. Even better if China gets blamed but people in power here get to benefit.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 11 of 21
    jovi.tiatiajovi.tiatia Posts: 9member
    Anonymous airdrop can also be used to harass with unwelcome non-sexual materials of any subject, for example: religion, pyramid schemes and other scams, leaked personal identifying info, a digital virus, anything Android, incorrectly loaded dishwashers, or the smart case for the Airpods Max.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 12 of 21
    radarthekatradarthekat Posts: 3,842moderator
    Protesters just need to agree that files will be shared at the top of each hour, or twice each hour on the hour and on the half hour. 
    Fidonet127roundaboutnowwatto_cobra
  • Reply 13 of 21
    Apple_BarApple_Bar Posts: 134member
    jovi.tiatia said:
    Anonymous airdrop can also be used to harass with unwelcome non-sexual materials of any subject, for example: religion, pyramid schemes and other scams, leaked personal identifying info, a digital virus, anything Android, incorrectly loaded dishwashers, or the smart case for the Airpods Max.
    BUT you have to accept such files. It’s not the sender’s fault that the receiver suffer from curiosity and intrigue. 

  • Reply 14 of 21
    Apple_BarApple_Bar Posts: 134member
    I think this article needs more information on why this is being done and how it affects things. It isn’t just for the children or because of China said so. There is whole planes of people getting unwanted porn photos sent to them. I have mine sent to contacts only just because of these stories. 

    You make think or joke it is for the children but sending unwanted porn photos is sexual harassment. 
    BUT you have to accept such files. It’s not the sender’s fault that the receiver suffer from curiosity and intrigue. 
  • Reply 15 of 21
    Apple_BarApple_Bar Posts: 134member
    shamino said:
    Before jumping into "Apple is taking orders from the Chinese government" theories, there may be other perfectly reasonable reasons for this change.  Like, for instance, the fact that AirDrop has been used as a medium for sending obscene images to strangers.  Some news stories:


    By preventing phones from being set to "Everyone" at all times, you block most of this, since the attackers will only be able to send to people who already have him in their contacts list.

    FWIW, I leave my devices set to "Contacts Only" precisely because I don't want any possibility of a stranger sending me anything.  I can share content with my friends and relatives, and that's plenty.
    Yet you jumped into the conclusion the attacker is a “him”.


    williamlondon
  • Reply 16 of 21
    ihatescreennamesihatescreennames Posts: 1,904member
    jovi.tiatia said:
    Why are so many people automatically tapping accept on anonymous AirDrops?

    We already have some common sense surrounding spam phone calls, texts, emails, and postal mail. Don't open/answer them.

    If youre on a plane and you click accept out of curiosity, then don't be surprised when you find out whatever is inside that AirDrop!
    When someone AirDrops a photo to another phone a preview of the photo appears on the notification. Nobody needs to tap anything to see that preview. I believe that is where the complaints come from. 

    Personally, I wouldn’t care if someone tried to AirDrop a photo to me that I had no interest in seeing. If I saw the preview and didn’t like/wasn’t interested in what is shown it’s easy enough to tap “Decline”. Done. 
    roundaboutnowwatto_cobra
  • Reply 17 of 21
    roundaboutnowroundaboutnow Posts: 735member
    shamino said:
    I've sent or received files via AirDrop to people that aren't in my contacts on a few occasions.
    ...
    I have a suggestion ...: When choosing the one-time AirDrop option, whoever the sender is would have a QR code come up on their screen to show the intended recipient. This forces a direct face-to-face contact so the request is known not to be from some unseen stranger. The recipient would then take their phone and scan the QR code to accept the transfer. (I admit that I don't know if there is something under the hood that might prevent this idea from working).
    If the sender is standing right there, he could just ask you to temporarily set your phone to "Everyone".  Then he can send to you.  Then you can turn it off again.  Just as effective and not as awkward as having to exchange QR codes.  Sure, someone else could slip in a porno pic during that short time, but it would be pretty unlikely.

    The proposed Apple change actually facilitates this, because it will revert after 10 minutes, so you don't need to remember to manually reset it.

    Or he could just send it as an e-mail or an iMessage.
    It doesn't seem like you understood everything I wrote...

    Temporarily setting to "everyone" is what I do now, as I wrote above. It's not horrible, but I think my suggestion would be easier.

    What's so awkward about the QR method? My suggestion is that the QR would be generated as an option that pops up when you choose AirDrop. No fumbling with settings required.

    I also addressed the notion that the 10 minute time out could help if phone is set to "everyone."

    Of course sending an email or iMessage is an option too, but keep in mind that these methods do require divulging personal contact information that you may not want to share.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 18 of 21
    macguimacgui Posts: 2,357member
    I've never used AirDrop with anyone and it's worked only intermittently for moving files from device to Mac or back. It stays on Contacts Only and it would be fine by me to have Everyone stay on for only 10 minutes then default to Contacts Only.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 19 of 21
    chadbagchadbag Posts: 2,000member
    Apple_Bar said:
    shamino said:
    Before jumping into "Apple is taking orders from the Chinese government" theories, there may be other perfectly reasonable reasons for this change.  Like, for instance, the fact that AirDrop has been used as a medium for sending obscene images to strangers.  Some news stories:


    By preventing phones from being set to "Everyone" at all times, you block most of this, since the attackers will only be able to send to people who already have him in their contacts list.

    FWIW, I leave my devices set to "Contacts Only" precisely because I don't want any possibility of a stranger sending me anything.  I can share content with my friends and relatives, and that's plenty.
    Yet you jumped into the conclusion the attacker is a “him”.


    “Him” is actually correct English.  When a generic person of indeterminate sex is referenced, the indeterminate pronouns are used, which happen to be the same as the masculine but which are not the masculine— they are the indeterminate.  
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 20 of 21
    appleinsideruserappleinsideruser Posts: 489member
    Just give us options for everyone, or everyone for 10 minutes. Choice. Simples. Everyone is happy.
    watto_cobra
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