HONG KONG — A Chinese tech company has successfully cracked the encryption of Apple’s AirDrop wireless file sharing function, enabling the identification of users, according to judicial authorities in Beijing.
Wangshendongjian Technology, the company responsible for breaking the encryption, assisted local police in tracking down individuals who used AirDrop to send inappropriate information to commuters in the Beijing subway, said the city’s Justice Bureau in a statement released on Monday. The company was able to identify the senders’ mobile phone numbers and email addresses as part of an investigation following a complaint, the department added.
While no specific details about the nature of the messages were provided, AirDrop has been associated with nuisance messages received by commuters on subways and buses in Chinese cities.
Furthermore, the popular file sharing feature was reportedly used by protesters over the last few months of 2022 to spread anonymous messages critical of the Chinese government. The feature allowed residents in China to distribute leaflets and images echoing slogans used during a rare protest against Chinese leader Xi Jinping in October 2022.
Wangshendongjian Technology successfully overcame the technical challenges of anonymous traceability through AirDrop, preventing the further spread of inappropriate remarks and potential negative influence, according to the Beijing Justice Bureau.
Apple began limiting AirDrop sharing with non-contacts for devices in China shortly after the protest against Xi in November 2022. This measure made it more difficult for users to share files with unknown individuals, and it was later expanded globally.
AirDrop, which operates over short distances and can only be used between Apple devices, gained popularity among anti-government demonstrators in Hong Kong during 2019. Protesters regularly utilized the feature to send vibrant posters and artwork to subway passengers, encouraging them to participate in demonstrations.
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