Bluetooth, AirDrop and such file-sharing services are crucial tools in China, where the so-called Great Firewall has resulted in one of the mostly tightly-controlled internet regimes. In recent years, anti-government protesters have often turned to AirDrop to organise and share their political demands. For instance, some activists were sharing anti-Xi Jinping posters using this tool on the Shanghai subway last October - just as the Chinese president was awaiting a historic third term as the country’s leader.

    • JohannesOliver@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      I doubt they will. They already added a 10 minute limit in airdrop for the “receive from everyone” setting (China first, now worldwide). From a security perspective it’s a good change but it does block the usefulness of airdrop as a tool for mass messaging.

    • derived_allegory@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      Apple has repeatedly giving in to Chinese government because China is a huge market for them. As much as I hate google for many of their practices, they have the basic decency to volunteeringly leave China when their regulations is against the company value.

      • 0x815@feddit.deOP
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        1 year ago

        China is a huge market for them

        Yes, and don’t forget that Apple still depends on Chinese factories to assemble its iPhone devices.