China Claims Successful Crack of Apple Airdrop Encryption for Sender Identification
Chinese tech company crack Apple Airdrop encryption, aiding identification of individuals who sent inappropriate information in Beijing subway, says city's Justice Bureau
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Beijing's Justice Bureau has reported that a Chinese tech company has managed to bypass the encryption on Apple's Airdrop feature, allowing them to identify users who use the popular wireless file sharing function.
Beijing-based Wangshendongjian Technology assisted the police in tracking down individuals who used their service to send "inappropriate information" to people in the Beijing subway, according to a statement released by the agency on Monday.
The company was able to identify the mobile phone numbers and email addresses of the senders as part of the investigation initiated after a complaint. The statement mentioned that several suspects had been identified, but did not provide details about the content of the messages.
The company successfully overcame the technical challenges of anonymous traceability through AirDrop, which prevented the further dissemination of inappropriate comments and potential negative impact. CNN has contacted Apple (AAPL) for a response.
Airdrop has been accused of sending annoying messages to commuters on subways and buses in Chinese cities. Additionally, the wireless file sharing function was allegedly used by protesters to distribute anonymous messages criticizing the Chinese government in late 2022.
International media outlets such as The New York Times and Vice World News reported that Chinese residents utilized AirDrop, a feature exclusive to Apple devices, to circulate leaflets and images mirroring slogans from a rare protest against Chinese leader Xi Jinping in October of that year.
During the 2019 Hong Kong demonstrations, AirDrop was widely used by protesters to send vibrant posters and artwork to subway passengers, encouraging them to join the protests. However, in November 2022, Apple implemented restrictions on Airdrop sharing with non-contacts in China, and later extended this feature globally.
