Next year, Apple intends to globally implement the new AirDrop setting.
China is struggling more and more to address social unrest. 
In 2013's iOS 7, AirDrop made its iPhone debut.

Apple has limited the use of the AirDrop wireless file-sharing feature on iPhones in China after demonstrators took use of the system to share photos with other iPhone users. AirDrop enables rapid file transfers between Apple devices, including those involving images, documents, and movies.

When the 10-minute time limit expires, the system reverts to the previous setting, where contacts are the only ones who can send files. As a result, consumers won't be able to accept an AirDrop transfer from a stranger unless they recently expressly turned on the capability.

It makes it more challenging for those who want to share content discreetly and interact with people. Apple altered the AirDrop capability on iPhones sold in China. The modification was made as a result of protesters' use of the site to distribute anti-Xi Jinping and anti-Chinese government posters.

The usage of AirDrop to get over China's strict web restrictions has been well-documented for the past three years, and it has recently attracted new interest. Apple refused to provide an explanation for why the change was made in China but stated that it plans to roll out the new AirDrop setting globally in the coming year.

The aim, according to the company, is to lessen uninvited file sharing. The tech company with headquarters in California has faced criticism in the past for altering iPhone features to placate the Chinese government. 

As an illustration, the maker of the iPhone received criticism in 2019 for denying access to the Taiwanese flag emoji to customers in Hong Kong or Macau. The VPN programmes that were previously utilised to circumvent the country's internet firewall were also removed.

China is finding it more and more difficult to deal with societal turmoil. Anti-government shouts began to spread in places like Beijing before a big communist party session last month. Over the weekend, China vowed to uphold its strict Covid Zero policy, dashed hopes that Beijing would loosen the restrictions after its party congress.