Apple and Google are working together to limit AirTag stalking

On Tuesday, Apple and Google announced a collaborative effort to develop a new industry specification that aims to address the safety risks posed by Bluetooth-enabled tracking devices, including AirTags. The proposed standard would require the implementation of “unauthorised tracking detection and alerts” on both Android and iOS devices.

According to the proposed industry specification, creators of Bluetooth tracking devices must follow several best practices to prevent the misuse of location trackers, which can expose users to stalking, harassment, and theft. The specification requires unauthorised tracking detection and alerts, which should notify individuals when a tracker that is separated from its owner is travelling with them and provide instructions on how to locate and disable the device.

The proposed standard has received support from other companies that manufacture similar tracking devices, such as Tile, Chipolo, Eufy Security, Samsung, and Pebblebee.

Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the safety of Apple’s AirTag since its release in 2021, with worries about potential stalking and harassment risks. Erica Olsen, from the National Network to End Domestic Violence, told The Verge last year that tracking devices had been a problem for years before the release of the AirTag. In response to these concerns, Apple has improved its unknown AirTag alerts on iPhones and developed an app for Android devices to scan for unwanted trackers. In a statement, Olsen expressed gratitude for the proposed industry specification and hopes that it will reduce the burden on survivors in detecting unwanted trackers and minimise the opportunities for misuse of this technology.

According to a statement from Ron Huang, Apple’s vice president of sensing and connectivity, the company designed AirTag and the Find My network with features that discourage unwanted tracking, and they have continued to make improvements to ensure the technology is used as intended. He further adds that the proposed industry specification builds upon the protections offered by AirTag, and the collaboration with Google represents a significant step forward in combating unwanted tracking on both iOS and Android platforms.