Apple Hobbled Protesters' Tool in China Weeks Before Widespread Protests (qz.com) 89
"China's control of the internet has become so strong that dissidents must cling to any crack in the so-called Great Firewall," writes Qz.
But as anti-government protests sprung up on campuses and cities in China over the weekend, Qz reminds us that "the country's most widespread show of public dissent in decades will have to manage without a crucial communication tool, because Apple restricted its use in China earlier this month." AirDrop, the file-sharing feature on iPhones and other Apple devices, has helped protestors in many authoritarian countries evade censorship. That's because AirDrop relies on direct connections between phones, forming a local network of devices that don't need the internet to communicate. People can opt into receiving AirDrops from anyone else with an iPhone nearby.
That changed on Nov. 9, when Apple released a new version of its mobile operating system, iOS 16.1.1, to customers worldwide. Rather than listing new features, as it often does, the company simply said, "This update includes bug fixes and security updates and is recommended for all users." Hidden in the update was a change that only applies to iPhones sold in mainland China: AirDrop can only be set to receive messages from everyone for 10 minutes, before switching off. There's no longer a way to keep the "everyone" setting on permanently on Chinese iPhones.
The change, first noticed by Chinese readers of 9to5Mac, doesn't apply anywhere else.
Apple didn't respond to questions about the AirDrop change. It plans to make the "Everyone for 10 Minutes" feature a global standard next year, according to Bloomberg.
But as anti-government protests sprung up on campuses and cities in China over the weekend, Qz reminds us that "the country's most widespread show of public dissent in decades will have to manage without a crucial communication tool, because Apple restricted its use in China earlier this month." AirDrop, the file-sharing feature on iPhones and other Apple devices, has helped protestors in many authoritarian countries evade censorship. That's because AirDrop relies on direct connections between phones, forming a local network of devices that don't need the internet to communicate. People can opt into receiving AirDrops from anyone else with an iPhone nearby.
That changed on Nov. 9, when Apple released a new version of its mobile operating system, iOS 16.1.1, to customers worldwide. Rather than listing new features, as it often does, the company simply said, "This update includes bug fixes and security updates and is recommended for all users." Hidden in the update was a change that only applies to iPhones sold in mainland China: AirDrop can only be set to receive messages from everyone for 10 minutes, before switching off. There's no longer a way to keep the "everyone" setting on permanently on Chinese iPhones.
The change, first noticed by Chinese readers of 9to5Mac, doesn't apply anywhere else.
Apple didn't respond to questions about the AirDrop change. It plans to make the "Everyone for 10 Minutes" feature a global standard next year, according to Bloomberg.
how does the phone know? (Score:1)
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How about reading TFA instead of worrying about FP?
Also noted by our readers, this restriction is based on hardware rather than software. This means that only iPhone models purchased in Mainland China are affected by the update. This is not the first time Apple has implemented an iOS restriction based on hardware model. For instance, the Taiwanese flag emoji is not available on iPhones sold in China. Apple also uses the same method to limit the volume level of its devices in European Union countries, as required by law.
Re:how does the phone know? (Score:5, Interesting)
For instance, the Taiwanese flag emoji is not available on iPhones sold in China.
This is very unexpected.
> It shouldn't be, China believes Taiwan is blah blah blah... one China policy blah blah cuck cuck
No, I meant it was unexpected that Apple hasn't bent over to China and eliminated the Taiwanese flag emoji internationally.
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Probably also gonna be rolled out next year.
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Re: how does the phone know? (Score:3, Insightful)
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What surprises me is how well China leverages its economic might to make corporations evil.
In this case there is a bit more to this story about Apple. There have been several events that warned western companies that now might be a good idea to move manufacturing out of China (in no specific order): 1) Trade war with the US, 2) COVID-0 policy and 3) the Uyghur genocide getting publicized in the west. Almost every single western company at least created secondary suppliers in other countries if not moved their manufacturing out of China completely. The one major exception was Apple and since Tim
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. Almost every single western company at least created secondary suppliers in other countries if not moved their manufacturing out of China completely. The one major exception was Apple and since Tim Cook is a "supply chain expert" it was his call and his responsibility to make the correct call. He didn't.
You mean except for the production they have moved to India (last I checked, not a Chinese province)? https://9to5mac.com/2022/10/12... [9to5mac.com]
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Re: how does the phone know? (Score:1)
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Except Apple HAS created a secondary supplier in another country, and has started moving production to that supplier. Once he discovered his mistake, inst
Re: how does the phone know? (Score:2)
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Pretty much the only criteria that China is missing is going to open war over the economic interests of the state.
Russia ticked off that checkbox in February this year. And as far as China goes, that final straw seems to becoming quite fragile looking at how the the tensions between China and Taiwan are developing.
Re: how does the phone know? (Score:2)
Re: how does the phone know? (Score:1)
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Re: how does the phone know? (Score:1)
Re: how does the phone know? (Score:2)
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No the aren't. *Final assembly* is done in India, they don't "make" it. Far from it. And only for the Indian market, not for export. So how is this going to help right now?
Re:how does the phone know? (Score:5, Informative)
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iPhones for different countries are not identical; they have to be different to support different networks.
Note that the Daily Mail went into full panic mode: The fact that Apple marks refurbished phones in a rather obvious way means you are in danger of getting a refurbished phone instead of a new one according to them - wh
Re: how does the phone know? (Score:5, Informative)
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IMEI number... just like a mac address will identify the manufacturer for a NIC
Impressive. (Score:5, Interesting)
How many Apple owners appreciate Chinese control? Must really suck, err I mean really be profitable to be a stooge to the Chinese government.
I'm glad we boycott such companies here in America. O wait.
Re:Impressive. (Score:4, Interesting)
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I look forward to using the musk phone as I drive to the hyperloop in my cybertruck that was charged by tesla solar roof panels for my trip to mars.
Used to believe in the guy. But he's very erratic and I think he's probably needs a 3 month vacation where he gets more than a few hour's a night sleep.
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Yes, I agree with you, it’s like watching NASCAR or MMA, you tell yourself you appreciate the skill, talent, conditioning, etc. but maybe one is just waiting for some real damage that looks good in slow-motion?
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Not if it's going to show you ads 24/7 directly into your visual and auditory cortexes. That's not invisible at all. Far from it. And for only $19.99/sec they can stimulate your pleasure centers directly.
Re: Impressive. (Score:1)
Even if he is beginning to fly over the coocoo's nest to the point of no return, he did achieve quite a lot before it happened (whether you love or hate what he has done).
Re:Impressive. (Score:5, Interesting)
I don't understand all these "I'm so disappointed" reactions to Musk's free speech/laissez-faire value system. It's not like he has been hiding his beliefs. Shoot, he personally stood up to the entire state of California over the closure of the Tesla factor during the very early days of COVID, daring them to come and arrest him. In the end, he moved his entire base of operations to Texas in protest. What did you think he would do with Twitter?
As a conservative, let me assure you we are under no illusion that Musk is one of us. He clearly is a free-thinker with a mix of beliefs, he's not predictably pro- or con- on any particular topic. What he is, though, is your typical tech dude, very opinionated, believes he has good reasons for what he believes, and only changes his mind when presented with a better argument.
One of those beliefs is in the power of freedom of speech. On that score, I think it's demonstrably true that he's making a better Twitter, a much more interesting, informative, and yes, entertaining place. There's no need to cry about it, just enjoy the ride and hop on.
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Elon Musk only believes in free speech for Elon Musk.
The latest example, from just today:
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/s... [twitter.com]
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Yea, he believes in consequence free speech for himself but fires anyone who says something he doesn't like.
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Which explains all the bans from Twitter because people bought Twitter Blue and started impersonating him. Bans for other accounts didn't really happen.
Sorry, it's not freedom of speech if you're basically banning people you don't like who m
Re:Impressive. (Score:4, Insightful)
Just be aware that phones sold as "privacy phones" often are not [reuters.com].
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Sending encrypted messages with decryption keys for example would cause legal problems to use the messages as evidence.
Why?
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Now depending on where you stand you will think they either should be allowed or should not be allowed to use these messages as evidence, whether encrypted or not, but they
Re: Impressive. (Score:2)
I wouldn't trust any claims as "privacy ensured" from any company, as all it would take is a visit from some very scary government men to give your data up.
Even if it was an anonymous group who somehow was able to make these products, all it would take is the threat of PMITA prison (or maybe a $5 hammer) to make them sing once they are discovered.
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I wouldn't trust any claims as "privacy ensured" from any company, as all it would take is a visit from some very scary government men to give your data up.
There was one case where the "privacy ensured" app was actually paid for by the US government, obviously using some company made to look dodgy as a front. They actually paid money to drug dealers who made their drug dealer mates install and use the app. There were not only arrests, but also drug dealers going underground because they were afraid their mates would come after them.
Re: Impressive. (Score:2)
I remember that well, and there were a couple documentaries made about this.
If it's a black box that you don't really know the workings of, assume it's ratting you out.
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I would evaluate my future purchases as well, but all other possible mobile devices at least are vastly worse in terms of privacy and bowing to government control.
The Librem5 by Purism, the PinePhone, anything that runs postmarketOS or even LineageOS is better than putting all your privacy eggs in one basket with a proprietary OS that sends encrypted data to the mothership and doesn't give you the keys to decrypt those messages so you can see in them. Particularly when that company has already lied to you by trying to tell you that everything that happens on the device stays on the device.
Re: Impressive. (Score:3)
"It would be a real shame if something bad were to happen to your product manufacturing line. Let's make an arrangement..."
You know 100% the Chinese government used good old Mafia tactics to pull this one off.
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Google makes phones in China too, and they are not doing this. Google services are blocked in China, and domestic phones there use versions of Android with all the Google stuff stripped out.
The threat is not to Apple's manufacturing. That would just screw over Foxconn. The threat is to Apple's access to the lucrative Chinese market. In order to keep selling iPhones and services there they need to comply with CCP rules, which means taking stuff down on request.
Microsoft also operate in China under the same r
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Re: Impressive. (Score:1)
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Musk will really build a truly privacy-based phone and there will be a real alternative.
Yes, because that's what the Saudi-Musk partnership is all about.
It's about freedom of speech and anti-authoritarianism one dismemberment at a time.
Re:Impressive. (Score:4, Funny)
As an Apple customer, this news is very disappointing and I will seriously evaluate my next purchases based on Apple's behavior. Maybe if Apple and Google censor Twitter, Musk will really build a truly privacy-based phone and there will be a real alternative. https://nypost.com/2022/11/26/... [nypost.com]
Worry not. Apparently Elon Musk is building a freedom smartphone. Since it's Elon building the thing it is guaranteed to feature a near orgasmic user experience full of extra features you can activate through a small and reasonable subscription on a feature by feature basis. Now that Elon's joined the right side of politics (pun intended, let the liberal tears flow) his smartphone will be Starlink based, encrypted, completely private and have a faucet on it that dispenses liberal tears. Furthermore, the way things seem to be evolving with the Apple Appstore and Google Playstore, it will also be the only smartphone on the planet to have the Twitter app. Place your pre-orders now!!!
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Maybe if Apple and Google censor Twitter, Musk will really build a truly privacy-based phone
Yeah, and maybe winged primates will engage in aviation activity from my rectal cavity.
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Musk won't make a phone. Don't hold out for him providing you with an alternative.
He might announce one, but he announces a lot of stuff.
Chinese domestic handset suicide (Score:3)
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No, if you had any sense you would definitely not import one from elsewhere. Why would you do that?
Think about it.
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Importing a phone won't help. If you import an Android phone it won't work properly, because most Google services are banned. You might as well just get a domestic model and load Lineage and some alternative to Google services. Even if you do that, unless all the other protestors do it, it won't be a lot of help.
Importing an iPhone won't work either, it will force you to use the Chinese App Store.
If you had this app installed already, blocking updates or removal probably won't help as the Great Firewall wil
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If you import an Android phone it won't work properly, because most Google services are banned.
I guess the word properly is doing the heavy lifting there.
I've never heard of an Android phone that requires Google services to work properly.
I've used five Android phones over the years, and have never used any of those Google services. I don't have any Google account.
You can use an Android phone without Google services for calls and texts, photos, email, calendar, web browsing, mapping, and just about any app out there.
it is actually a good change for everyone (Score:2)
Think Different (Score:5, Funny)
Unless you're in China.
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You can think different for 10 minutes. Then you go back in line and start work again comrade.
Re: Think Different (Score:2)
Companies always pushed out love, kumbaya, and good fee fees. "Think different" was no different, and the manipulation and emptiness is the same as all the others.
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Well yeah, that's no secret. Corporations have no mandate other than making money for their shareholders. They have no other purpose, legal or otherwise.
So you can pretty much assume anything they say or do is said and done to increase profits. Not for the sake of the environment. Not to be nice. Not for morals or decency. Just profits.
In the case of Apple, "Think different" was bullshit. So was "We care about privacy". Those who believed their privacy bullshit were naive fools who richly deserved to be par
doesn't apply anywhere else... yet (Score:2)
Apple didn't say why the change was implemented only in China, but it did tell Bloomberg that the limitation will be rolled out globally "in the coming year," with the goal to mitigate unwanted file sharing.
but it's telling they rolled it out in China first.
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but it did tell Bloomberg that the limitation will be rolled out globally "in the coming year," with the goal to mitigate unwanted file sharing.
How dumb is the Apple customer persona they are targeting (not necessarily their actual userbase) that they can't manage to simply flick the option over to "contacts only" if this is a problem? Just like the "alternative app stores" discussion, Apple sees their target customer as a nitwit who couldn't even handle being presented with choice because they would overwhelmingly make the wrong one. It doesn't help that they have an army of fanboys and corporate apologists that rush to justify and defend being ch
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So much for standing up for equal rights (Score:1)
Gun to head (Score:3)
"You will do this Apple, or things will go very badly for you!"
This is why forced updating is bad especially in countries with opressive regimes
Damaging property (Score:3)
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The shittyness of this action aside, no one is owed a specific feature which works in a specific way. You need to be careful what you wish for. Either you pay for a phone hardware and have software as a service with features that vary, can be increased and improved upon, or you buy once, you own the phone *and* the software, forever unchanging. Oh there's a security update that needs to be applied? I hope you bought the $30/month service contract. Oh feature x isn't working? Well for $1000 you can have a ne
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Actually useful feature (Score:5, Interesting)
Currently there are three modes: Nobody can send through AirDrop, people in your address book can send through AirDrop, anybody can send to your phone through AirDrop. Obviously allows spamming people lets say on the train around you.
The new feature is allowing everyone to send through AirDrop for 15 minutes. So if you want a picture from my phone, you turn on AirDrop for 15 minutes and I send the photo. That works just fine in China and prevents everyone sending you their dick pictures. Now they _should_ have kept the original setting as well, but apart from that it is actually a useful feature.
I am unsure how this is a blow against dissidents (Score:2)
So Airdrop for all times out after 15 minutes, and you have to re-enable it. So what? That doesn't mean it can't be used, and it can be used for long periods of time, it's just more of a pain to do so now. But *most* of the time you don't want a setting that enables *anyone* to Airdrop you. That's a recipe for spam. It seems like Apple is just trying to make things better for most of their customers, as they say this will be rolled out wider.
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Re: I am unsure how this is a blow against disside (Score:2)
No, heâ(TM)s not retarded. He makes a good point and you resorted to ad hominem.
This is actually good (Score:2)
Misinformation (Score:2)
Indeed. Can't have them spreading misinformation . . .