Apple plans to expand AirDrop time limit to customers worldwide
Apple's 10-minute AirDrop setting time limit that it is testing in China will eventually expand to every user.
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.
Read on AppleInsider
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.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
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...
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.
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.