With iOS 17.1 and watchOS 10.1, Apple introduced a new NameDrop feature that allows users to place Apple devices near each other to quickly exchange contact information. Sharing contact information is obviously done with user permission, but some news organizations and police departments are spreading misinformation about how it works.
as mentioned by The Washington Post, there are warnings about the appearance of NameDrop on FaceTime. Police departments in Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Ohio and other states suggest contact information can be shared “just by holding your phones together.” Trust me Chester City Police Department In Ohio:
IMPORTANT PRIVACY UPDATE: If you have an iPhone and have updated to the latest iOS 17, they have set a new feature called NameDrop to ON by default. This feature allows you to share your contact information by bringing your phones close together. To turn this off, go to Settings, General, AirDrop, Device Pairing. Switch to OFF.
While it’s true that NameDrop is turned on by default, the way it works is more nuanced than simply placing two iPhones close together.
NameDrop works when two iPhones running iOS 17.1 or an iPhone running iOS 17.1 and an Apple Watch running watchOS 10.1 are placed virtually next to each other. When two devices are in close contact and both are unlocked, a pop-up appears prompting users to share contact information or a photo.
Contact information is not automatically shared, and is a user-initiated process that requires both individuals to exchange information in order to accept the transfer. While random sharing can happen, the user is required to unlock the device and accept a share request for it to happen.
Many police departments posted the above warning, which was widely shared on Facebook and other social networks. For example, a message from the Noble County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio received more than 70,000 shares, while an alert from the Dewey Police Department in Pennsylvania was shared 11,000 times. After criticism from some commenters, Noble County edited its message to clarify that it was a pop-up to move the content, and Dewey County said it was trying to “engage parents with their children,” but many people who saw the original post may not have. updates.
The point of the post was to get parents to engage with their kids and what they’re doing on their devices, rather than scare them as suggested. We suggest everyone do their research on new technology and updates to find out what’s out there, especially for kids
Several local news outlets also shared similar suspicious NameDrop information. KDKA-TV in Pittsburghfor example, interviewed several people and included quotes suggesting that NameDrop happens automatically.
“So I turned it off because I can’t use it. I don’t even have a phone at work, so I can’t really use it. But I guess the default might be a bit on. Controversial, because I think giving out your contact would happen by accident It has to be a conscious decision, not something to know,” Jerry said.
“It’s a bit concerning, I think it should be an optional feature instead of happening automatically,” said Liz Jones.
If anything, NameDrop has the potential to be annoying rather than dangerous, simply because it can activate in a situation like dinner or a meeting when your phone is next to someone else’s and unlocked. In light of the negative feedback, Apple may turn off NameDrop by default in a future update, but for now, those who want to turn it off can do so by opening the Settings app, going to AirDrop, and turning off Device Sharing.