PORTLAND, Maine — A new feature from Apple's latest iPhone software is drawing warnings from police about the potential for people to share their contact information unknowingly.
NameDrop is a feature in iOS 17 that allows people to share their phone number and/or e-mail over Bluetooth, by putting their phones a few centimeters apart. Law enforcement officers from all over the country posted on social media saying that people could end up giving away their contact info simply by putting their phones near someone else's.
THE QUESTION:
Can someone get your contact information using NameDrop without your permission?
THE SOURCES:
Apple
Bangor, Maine Police Department
THE ANSWER:
WHAT WE FOUND:
Apple's privacy page says, "NameDrop was designed to share contact information with only intended recipients and users can choose the specific contact information they want to share—and just as important, which information they do not want to share."
- Users can select what information they want to send and must tap on "share" to exchange contact information. No contact information is automatically shared when two devices are brought together without a user taking action.
- Before using NameDrop and choosing the contact information they want to share, users will need to ensure their device is unlocked. NameDrop does not work with devices that are locked.
- Then to use NameDrop, iPhone users must choose to initiate the exchanging of contact information by holding the display of their iPhone very close—within a few centimeters of another person’s iPhone or Apple Watch.
- Once their desired information is selected they can choose to share their contact information while also receiving the other person’s contact information. Alternatively, they can choose to only receive contact information without sharing their own.
- If the user does not tap on either option, to "Share or to Receive Only," no contact information will be shared.
- To cancel NameDrop at any time, a user can simply swipe from the bottom of the display, lock their device, or move their device away if the connection has not been established.
Watch Apple's tutorial here.
Bangor Police Dept. Sergeant Jason McAmbley said the department posted on social media to dispel misinformation.
"Okay, I've heard this, but I'm going to have to find out 'is this really true?' Trust, yet verify. We do the same thing. Don't believe what everybody says. Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's true," McAmbley said. "I really do think that if you've got kids you need to be monitoring what they're doing on that phone because they're going to get smarter than you real quick."
To turn off NameDrop, go into your Settings, tap "General," then tap "AirDrop," then tap the switch button to turn "Bringing Devices Together" off.