Rosa Paris And Innocence In Danger Raise Awareness About Risks Of AirDrop

Apr. 08, 2022

Today, 86% of French people between the ages of 12 and 17 are equipped with smartphones. A majority of minors are lucky enough to have access to nearly unlimited movies, games, apps, and articles, all in the palm of their hand. But these minors are also chosen prey for sexual aggressors.

"Cyber-flashers" have been getting better at what they do with every minute that goes by and in 2022, they're at the forefront of technology. Because now, in addition to sending "dick pics" on social networks, by SMS ... they use Bluetooth via AirDrop meaning that, in any public space, you could see a penis pop up on your screen without your consent.

And if getting a "dick pic" when you’re 20 years old is harassment, getting it at 12 years old on your cell phone can feel like a bomb.

Faced with this scourge, the association Innocence in Danger decided to take action and use this very media to make parents aware of a problem that could deeply affect their children.

Intrusive Airdrops persist, in part because it’s so simple, and in part because it's so difficult to trace their authors. If your iPhone is set to default for many options, then anyone can send you anything, so long as Bluetooth is enabled. Dispatch is direct, can be done without connection to the Internet, and doesn’t pass by a third-party server, unlike with mail and instant messaging, where it leaves traces.

 The simplicity of sending and using AirDrop is what gave Innocence in Danger the idea to deliver an important message with a new awareness campaign: AirDrop Gate

 You’re in the subway on your way to work, and despite it being rush hour, silence reigns throughout the car – every, or nearly every passenger is staring at his smartphone. Suddenly, a notification pops up – someone wants to send you a picture. Without thinking, without suspecting anything, you press accept, and then... it’s too late. You’ve just accepted a dick pic.

"Your child could have received one too. You're lucky, this time it's only a boat mooring. But it could have been worse," explains the text under the picture you just received.

The solution to not being harassed: change AirDrop settings from EveryonetoContacts Only.

Since AirDrop is a proximity-based media, in order to spread the message to as many people as possible, Innocence in Danger and ROSA PARIS called upon mobile developers to hack iPhones in order to automatically send a message to all devices within range.

Volunteers just had to carry one of these phones and the message would be sent to all the devices they came across without any action on their part, an average of 600 per day per iPhone.

In addition to public transport, Innocence in Danger targeted bars and restaurants, shopping malls, as well as several sporting events (Stade de France, Paris Marathon), cultural events (cinemas, Accor Arena, Zenith of Paris, the Philharmonie of Paris), and, since it's France, some demonstrations. And to warn future iPhone owners, Innocence in Danger also hacked iPhones at the Apple stores on the Champs-Elysees and near the Paris Opera to display its message.

Using only 30 iPhones, over a period of 2 weeks, the operation affected iPhones of over 250,000 people (data collected thanks to the program installed on the pirated iPhones).

And, in order to raise as much awareness as possible, it's now up to you to share this announcement via AirDrop.