Code found in the beta version of iOS 27 suggests that Apple is developing a system that could limit leased iPhones if customers are late on payments. The discovery comes after a recent Bloomberg report that Apple may soon launch a new “Apple Upgrade” leasing program, allowing customers to pay for phones through monthly installments.
9to5Mac he says:
The code describes a system called App Managed Features, which allows an authorized finance or carrier app to monitor an iPhone and perform ongoing health checks. If the contract is not serviced by the customer, Apple’s system services can put the iPhone into “Restricted Mode,” which blocks access to most apps until the payment or contract issue is resolved, while keeping a small set of apps available. The whitelist currently in the iOS 27 beta includes: Accessibility Reader, App Store, Health, Magnifier, Phone, Clock, Settings, Wallet, Passwords, and the Restricted Mode interface itself.
Apps that can send critical notifications, such as Messages, Home, and some medical or security apps, may also remain accessible. However, the carrier appears to have some control over these exceptions. The code does not appear to cancel, suspend, or otherwise modify App Store subscriptions associated with blocked apps. So a subscription could continue to charge even when access to its app is restricted.
Additionally, there is no number of missed payments to automatically trigger restrictions. The finance provider’s app decides when to lock the device based on its own policies. Finally, the new framework also introduces a new type of activation lock called “Partner Finance Lock,” which aims to prevent users from erasing, reselling, or using a restricted device for parts.
Although the press releases will range from very select to rare, I said I'd pass...because sometimes the editors hide.
and the money he gave until then? Coercive technology