Apple is facing legal action over the use of its AirTag item trackers as tools for stalking. A judge in San Francisco has ruled that Apple must defend itself in a class action lawsuit that accuses the tech giant of negligence for allowing AirTags to be used by stalkers. While most of the claims in the lawsuit were dismissed, Apple was not granted the dismissal it requested.
US District Judge Vince Chhabria refused to let Apple off the hook due to three plaintiffs who claimed that safety issues with AirTags caused their injuries while being stalked. The plaintiffs argue that Apple was aware of the potential misuse of AirTag trackers by stalkers, making them potentially liable under California law.
The lawsuit alleges that AirTags have become a preferred tool for stalkers and abusers. The plaintiffs claim that Apple’s design of AirTag was defective and did not provide sufficient safety features as expected by consumers.
To address concerns about AirTags being used for stalking, Apple introduced a feature that makes an AirTag emit a loud sound when it is away from its owner. Users will receive a notification if an unknown AirTag is moving with them and can locate the tracker by following the sound. Apple and Google are collaborating to prevent item trackers from being used for stalking purposes.
However, Android users may be at higher risk of being tracked by an AirTag since they do not receive notifications like iPhone users. This places almost half of the US population at risk of being tracked without their knowledge.
AirTag trackers do not connect to the internet but use Bluetooth signals to communicate with nearby Apple devices. These devices act as beacons to help locate lost AirTags, with Bluetooth having a range of about 30 feet.
As the lawsuit explains, once an AirTag comes within 30 feet of an Apple device, it can be located on Apple’s network of devices owned by consumers in the US. This extensive network includes iPhones, iPads, and iPods used by 64% of Americans as of 2017.
