Tech giants Apple and Google have announced a partnership to combat the safety risks associated with tracking devices like AirTags. These gadgets were originally invented to help people locate their lost items, but have also been used to secretly track individuals without their knowledge. The phenomenon, often labeled as “AirTag stalking,” has become a growing concern, with numerous reports of jealous partners and stalkers using these devices to monitor people’s movements.
To address this issue, Apple and Google have proposed a draft specification lodged with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) that aims to protect the privacy of individuals who do not want to be tracked. The proposal suggests that safety features already built into AirTags, such as audible alerts when a tracker is separated from its owner and a way to find and disable the device, should become an industry standard. Additionally, tools to combat unwanted tracking should work equally well on both iOS and Android platforms.
Other manufacturers in the Bluetooth tracking sector have expressed support for the proposal. Since the successful launch of AirTags in 2021, concerns have been raised about the technology’s potential for abuse, security flaws, and even clones being developed that can evade anti-tracking protocols.
No major tech company wants to be associated with a technology that makes it easier to stalk people. The partnership between Apple and Google aims to address this issue and protect the privacy of individuals who do not want to be tracked without their knowledge. The proposal also seeks to make safety features an industry standard and ensure that tools to combat unwanted tracking work equally well on all platforms.
The AirTag stalking phenomenon is a growing concern that has prompted Apple and Google to take action. The proposed solution would protect the privacy of individuals who do not want to be tracked and make safety features an industry standard. The proposal has received support from other manufacturers in the Bluetooth tracking sector. The partnership between Apple and Google aims to address this issue and ensure that tools to combat unwanted tracking work equally well on all platforms.