Apple's NameDrop Feature Is The Latest Victim Of Misinformation: This Time, Police Departments Are The Source

Apple Inc. AAPL launched a new NameDrop feature with the iOS 17.1 update. However, it is now at the center of misinformation from police departments across several states.

What Happened: The NameDrop feature, part of the iOS 17.1 and watchOS 10.1 updates, is designed to facilitate the exchange of contact information, but police departments are fear-mongering, reported Macrumors.

Police departments from Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Ohio, Illinois, and more have issued warnings about NameDrop, suggesting that devices only need to be in close proximity to share contact information.

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The City of Chester, as well as Beecher Police Departments, have even provided instructions to disable the feature based on this incorrect assumption.

In reality, NameDrop requires the devices to be virtually touching and both unlocked. A prompt then appears, asking both users if they wish to share contact information or a photo. This is a user-initiated process, requiring consent from both parties to proceed.

The misguided warnings were shared widely on social media. Many users have only seen the original, incorrect information despite subsequent clarifications.

Why It Matters: This misinformation appeared shortly after the release of iOS 17.1, which Apple rolled out to fix two significant usability issues, including the iPhone 15 display burn-in problem.

The “privacy updates” issued by multiple police departments have drawn a lot of attention on social media, including their official pages on Meta Platforms Inc.’s META Facebook.

Several users have even thanked me for these updates and disabled the NameDrop feature based on their guidance.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.