Apple Puts 10-Minute Cap on AirDrop Transfers in China
Apple is putting a 10-minute cap on the amount of time that users can receive AirDrop transfers in China, a move that will likely please the Chinese government. The Cupertino, Calif., company made the change in a recent update to its App Store Review Guidelines, which were first spotted by 9to5Mac.
Apple’s AirDrop feature lets users wirelessly transfer files between Apple devices. It is a popular way to share photos and videos, but it can also be used to share other kinds of files.
The 10-minute limit appears to be aimed at preventing users from using AirDrop to share large files, such as movies or software programs.
It’s not clear why Apple decided to impose the time limit in China. The country has strict controls on the internet and has in the past blocked or limited access to popular Western services such as Facebook, Google, and YouTube.
Apple’s App Store Review Guidelines are not available in Chinese, so it’s not clear how the company will enforce the new policy.
The change comes as Apple is facing increased scrutiny from the Chinese government. Last month, the company was forced to remove several VPN apps from its App Store in China.VPN apps allow users to bypass China’s “Great Firewall,” which blocks many foreign websites.
