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Google and Apple begin partnership to prevent AirTags from being used for stalking
Google and Apple confirmed on May 2 that they are entering into a partnership to prevent tracker devices from being misused for stalking purposes.
This measure should curb cases in which criminals used AirTag to track people instead of objects, a crime related to stalking. The companies presented a proposal that provides for the possibility of Bluetooth trackers to be located by unauthorized tracking detection system and also by Android and iOS operating systems on the iPhone, the user is alerted when an unknown AirTag is found.
Companies such as Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, Eufy Security and Pebblebee have backed the initiative, highlighting the importance of ways to prevent object trackers from being used to stalk people. The specification presented by Google and Apple was submitted to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) receiving feedback for 3 months.
“Bluetooth trackers have created huge benefits for the user, but they also bring the potential for unwanted tracking, requiring industry-wide action to address this issue,”
said Dave Burke, Google’s vice president of engineering for Android.
“Apple launched AirTag to give users the peace of mind of knowing where to find their most important items,”
said Ron Huang, Apple’s vice president of Sensing and Connectivity.
Despite numerous cases of privacy violations, AirTag has also repeatedly fulfilled its real goal by being able to locate everything from lost suitcases at airports to stolen cars.
The specification has been submitted as an Internet-Draft to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
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