The Chinese government, led by President Xi Jinping, has again demonstrated its plan to scrutinize messages and media files being transferred via Apple’s file-sharing apps – AirDrop and Bluetooth. Earlier, the Chinese Communist Party government implemented a heavy shield on social media platforms to filter out content that authorities believe is not compatible with the current regime.
But, this is the first time the government attempted to censor communications used by protesters. According to a report in The Guardian, the US-based technology firm took action after a large number of protesters used these two Apple applications to exchange messages and media files.
In fact, the country’s top internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China, has released draft regulations asking service providers to keep a close watch on “harmful” and “illegal information”.
The draft also mandates service providers to share data with authorities
According to the report, under the proposed rules, service providers will have to prevent the dissemination of harmful and illegal information, save relevant records and report their findings to regulators.
Besides this, the proposed draft also asks service providers to provide data and technical support while conducting inspections to relevant authorities including internet regulators and police.
Besides this, it also asked internet users to register with their real names.
“The new draft rules will bring airdrops and similar services firmly into China’s online content control mechanism,” said Tom Nonlist, a senior analyst at consulting firm Trivium China.
Does Google allow Chinese verification?
However, Google’s Android and other Chinese phone makers, such as Xiaomi and Oppo, have already put in place a system in which the communist government can monitor and filter messages.
However, Apple, as of now, does not have a specific strategy for tracking AirDrop or Bluetooth with the Chinese government. According to experts, the app was a relatively untraceable way to share files in China, where most social media and messaging platforms are tightly monitored.