Warnings to parents over new iPhone feature after newest iOS update

Law enforcement agencies nationwide are warning people, especially parents and guardians, about a privacy update that inadvertently allows users to share private information they may not want others to have.

According to agencies in multiple states, the new update includes a feature that allows users to share contact information and photos by holding two iPhones together.

The feature, called NameDrop, is activated by users who have installed the recent software update to iOS 17.

To note, according to an Apple fact sheet, NameDrop "only works for sending new contact information, not updating an existing contact."

How to turn off NameDrop: the new iPhone feature

When users install the update, NameDrop defaults to ‘ON’.

As a safety precaution, police are warning parents whose children have iPhones to be sure to change the settings on their iPhones.

To shut the feature off, follow these directions: Go to Settings, General, AirDrop, Bringing Devices Together, and select ‘OFF’.

The Henry County Sheriff's Office located in Tennessee posted the caution as did the Middletown Division of Police in Ohio, the Halifax Police Department in Virginia, and the Village of Mount Pleasant Department in Wisconsin.

"This is intended for the public to be aware of as this is something that can easily be mistaken or looked past by elderly, children or other vulnerable individuals," the Village of Mount Pleasant Police Department in Wisconsin posted on its Facebook page. "The intention of the information provided is to inform the public of this feature and adjust their settings as needed to keep their own or their loved ones contact information safe."