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A Chinese government-backed organization has reportedly developed a method to detect individuals who send messages using Apple Inc.’s widely used AirDrop feature, according to Beijing authorities. This initiative is part of broader attempts to eliminate unwanted content.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
According to a report by Bloomberg, the Beijing institution created a method to bypass the encryption of an iPhone’s device log, enabling the identification of phone numbers and email addresses of individuals sharing content through AirDrop<\/a>, as stated by the city’s judicial bureau in an online announcement. The agency reported that law enforcement has identified several suspects using this technique but did not reveal whether any arrests have been made.<\/p>\n \u201cIt improves the efficiency and accuracy of case-solving and prevents the spread of inappropriate remarks as well as potential bad influences,” said the bureau.<\/p>\n The announcement once again highlighted an iPhone function that activists globally have utilized to disseminate their messages. Requiring only a close-range Bluetooth connection, it was extensively employed by demonstrators to exchange pro-democracy slogans during the Hong Kong protests in 2019, states the report.<\/p>\n Lauded as a “technological breakthrough” in the article, this method could complement efforts aimed at eliminating content that China considers undesirable. Additionally, it introduces further unpredictability to Apple’s activities in a nation where the company already faces significant restrictions on content, extending to platforms like Apple TV and Books.<\/p>\n