(TRAVIS COUNTY, Tx.) — CBS News reports that two Texas women are suing Apple over their exes’ use of AirTags to track their movements in real-time, without their knowing.
The AirTag, a quarter-size Bluetooth device designed to be attached to keyrings, pets, or other personal objects, are marketed as useful household tools. Ever since their commercial launch in 2021, people have complained that they’re far too easy to abuse.
At $29 each, the tracking device enables stalkers to covertly keep tabs on their victims. The suit alleges that AirTags have “revolutionized the scope, breadth, and ease of location-based stalking.” The two women, identified as Lauren Hughes and ‘Jane Doe,’ accuse Apple of criminal negligence and misrepresenting safety features, calling them ‘Stalker-Proof’ in marketing materials.
AirTags use iPhones to orient themselves, as they lack any satellite connection. If your iPhone detects an unfamiliar AirTag consistently nearby over time and location, it will notify you of its presence. The system isn’t foolproof, though.
In February, Apple updated safety and privacy features for AirTags, after multiple reports of stalking.
“AirTag was designed to help people locate their personal belongings, not to track people or another person’s property, and we condemn in the strongest possible terms any malicious use of our products,” Apple said in a statement at the time.
The updated measures include an alert that notifies users setting up an AirTag that stalking is illegal and that law enforcement can access AirTag owners’ personal information.
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