4 ms·

If I travel to China does that mean my iCloud data will sync to Chinese iCloud?

morpheuskafka 7y ago
No, it is based on the account itself. There is no sync between the two sets of servers so that wouldn't work for them to base it on the physical location of the device.
- foobiekr 7y ago
  Says Apple. Do you believe them? Apple has been kind of marginal quality wise for awhile, mostly being better than the alternative because the alternative is garbage. But their handling of this makes much of what they say suspect.
  - kelnos 7y ago
    I would believe them based on technical reasons. Given that there's a special system, hosted on another company's servers, just for China, syncing non-Chinese iPhones into the Chinese iCloud system would be more work, and for what gain?
    - dpau 7y ago
      it could also be argued that the current system of partnering with a chinese government backed partner company is more work. in these systems efficiency is only one consideration, abiding by the laws and regulations of the host country is another. however in this case from what i've read your icloud data is tied to the account's country.
ottolin 7y ago
No, it depends on your iCloud account location instead of where you are.
- tyfon 7y ago
  Does that mean that a Chinese citizen can register their account in the US or buy a US account and avoid having their data handed to the Chinese government? I personally think it's a bit more complicated than that.
  - conanshang 7y ago
    Yes, a Chinese citizen can register an US or any other country’s account to avoid using GCBD data center. In fact, before Apple transferred all Chinese iCloud account data to GCBD, it sent out emails to warn related users, and instructed them to change regions if they don’t want to store personal data in China. Although register an account is easy, maintain such account is a pain. First, not all Chinese citizen can get an international credit card that support US dollars, so no way to purchase apps; second, for those who can get one, App Store may not allow to use it because it’s not a valid US card; third, even they can use that card for purchasing apps, US App Store, iTunes Store may not have those Chinese specific apps or music; last not to mention that the behavior of an US account using non US card outside US for a really lone time may trigger anti fraud protection.
  - 66438throwaway 7y ago
    It would be fascinating if that’s the situation. Would that also mean an individual wanting to avoid five eyes surveillance can register their account in China?

No, it is based on the account itself. There is no sync between the two sets of servers so that wouldn't work for them to base it on the physical location of the device.

foobiekr 7y ago
Says Apple. Do you believe them? Apple has been kind of marginal quality wise for awhile, mostly being better than the alternative because the alternative is garbage. But their handling of this makes much of what they say suspect.
- kelnos 7y ago
  I would believe them based on technical reasons. Given that there's a special system, hosted on another company's servers, just for China, syncing non-Chinese iPhones into the Chinese iCloud system would be more work, and for what gain?
  - dpau 7y ago
    it could also be argued that the current system of partnering with a chinese government backed partner company is more work. in these systems efficiency is only one consideration, abiding by the laws and regulations of the host country is another. however in this case from what i've read your icloud data is tied to the account's country.

ottolin 7y ago

No, it depends on your iCloud account location instead of where you are.

tyfon 7y ago
Does that mean that a Chinese citizen can register their account in the US or buy a US account and avoid having their data handed to the Chinese government? I personally think it's a bit more complicated than that.
- conanshang 7y ago
  Yes, a Chinese citizen can register an US or any other country’s account to avoid using GCBD data center. In fact, before Apple transferred all Chinese iCloud account data to GCBD, it sent out emails to warn related users, and instructed them to change regions if they don’t want to store personal data in China. Although register an account is easy, maintain such account is a pain. First, not all Chinese citizen can get an international credit card that support US dollars, so no way to purchase apps; second, for those who can get one, App Store may not allow to use it because it’s not a valid US card; third, even they can use that card for purchasing apps, US App Store, iTunes Store may not have those Chinese specific apps or music; last not to mention that the behavior of an US account using non US card outside US for a really lone time may trigger anti fraud protection.
- 66438throwaway 7y ago
  It would be fascinating if that’s the situation. Would that also mean an individual wanting to avoid five eyes surveillance can register their account in China?