Apple’s AirDrop Encryption Breached by China: Privacy Concerns Arise

China has reportedly decrypted the encryption technology of Apple‘s short-range wireless file-sharing system, AirDrop, drawing attention to Apple’s response.

According to AFP and other sources on the 10th (local time), experts supported by the Chinese government recently found a way to identify the identities of people using the encrypted AirDrop service.

This fact became known when the Beijing Judicial Bureau revealed on its official social media account that this technology was used to resolve a case where an inappropriate video was disseminated in the Beijing subway.

The Wangxundongjian Forensic Research Institute, commissioned by the judicial authorities, deployed forensic experts and found encrypted senders’ names, phone numbers, and emails through an in-depth analysis of iPhone device log records.

The Beijing Judicial Bureau revealed that the Beijing police utilized the developed technology to identify several suspects in various cases successfully. However, they did not disclose whether the suspects were arrested.

AirDrop is a technology that allows users to send files via Bluetooth and was widely used by activists to encourage citizens to participate in protests during the Hong Kong democratization protests 2019.

The Chinese authorities have strengthened control over AirDrop since November 2022, immediately after protests against President Xi Jinping broke out.

Using AirDrop in China is not illegal, but sending files to an unspecified number of people nearby is only possible for 10 minutes.

Apple did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.

Smartphone manufacturers like Apple typically respond with a new update version when security measures are breached. Still, how Apple will react given the possibility of pressure from Chinese authorities remains to be seen.