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AirDrop allows people to wirelessly share photos and videos with nearby Apple users, and if you have AirDrop set to “Everyone” (as opposed to “Contacts Only”), any dick with an iPhone or iPad can send you a shot of his rod. You know, because women don’t face enough everyday sexual harassment.
One recent victim shared her story with us: “I was on my way home from work two days ago, when my phone buzzed. When I looked down, it was an AirDrop notification,” says Elizabeth, who lives in New York City. “The photo was a zoomed-in dick pick. I didn’t even notice anyone getting too close to me or my phone, so I have no idea who it could have been.”
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Dick jokes aside, these uninvited digital assaults have the potential to do psychological damage. As one “cyber-flashing” victim told the BBC, “I felt violated. It was a very unpleasant thing to have forced upon my screen. I was also worried about who else might have been a recipient. It might have been a child, someone more vulnerable than me.”
Elizabeth says she was similarly shocked. “My first reaction was to just stop walking, and I’m pretty sure I said, ‘What the f*ck!’ very loudly. I took a screenshot of the entire bizarre situation, and then declined the photo,” she says.
Frustratingly, there’s not much law enforcement can do to help unless you save the pic, according to the BBC. So if you get an offensive image, consider “accepting” it and bringing your phone to the police to see if they can help track down the sender. While there’s no law (yet) that specifically deals with cyber flashing, baring your genitals in public is illegal in most states. We can’t let these pricks get away with this!