Apple limits use of AirDrop features in China - as Covid-19 protests continue, what is The Great Firewall?

iPhone users in China have discovered their latest update has removed many of the AirDrop features used to organise protests in the country
Benjamin Jackson
By Benjamin Jackson
Published 5th Dec 2022, 08:15 BST

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Over the past month protestors in China have experienced problems with their iPhones as China continues to crack down on zero-Covid policy protests throughout the country. The size of the crowds have been compared to  the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.

Users of the Apple product had noticed earlier in November that their AirDrop feature was no longer available to use over an unlimited amount of time and instead restricted to only 10 minutes of connectivity. The restrictions are only in effect in China, and were brought to the public attention after technology website 9to5Mac reported on the changes.

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Apple’s AirDrop feature has been a tool protestors in China have used to disseminate information about demonstrations. The feature was pivotal to organizing protests in Hong Kong and bypassing China’s "Great Firewall" in 2019.