Stalkers Have Made Apple's AirTag Their 'Weapon Of Choice,' Alleges New Lawsuit
Two women in the United States are suing Apple for building AirTag, calling it a "dangerous product." When AirTag was first released in 2021, the tracking device was promised to be "stalker-proof."
Since then, at least 150 cases of stalking using AirTags have been reported in the US alone, Vice claims. Two of these led to murder Ohio and Indiana. In February, Apple released updates to AirTag, claiming that the new features would limit the scope of stalking. But complaints kept coming in!
Stalkers love AirTags
In a new filing from yesterday, two women in California are using Apple for AirTags have become "one of the most dangerous and frightening technologies employed by stalkers."
They called AirTags a stalker's "weapon of choice" because of its small size that makes it hard to detect. The fact that Apple's location tracking is "unparalleled" isn't helping, and neither is the affordable $29 price tag.
Also read:?Woman Tracks Cheating Boyfriend Using Apple AirTag, Then 'Kills Him' With Her Car
Victims say that AirTags are helping stalkers track them. In addition, if an AirTag is deactivated, stalkers can get their hands on a new one very easily.
AirTags work by transmitting Bluetooth signals to Apple "Find My" network, helping users track their missing AirTags. The device is the size of a coat button and can be easily attached to keys and kept in wallets to prevent loss.
The size of AirTags make them the best choice for stalkers. The two women explained how they were stalked through AirTags. One of them, Lauren Hughes, was tracked by her ex-boyfriend who coloured the AirTag and hid in the wheel well of her car.
The other woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that she found an AirTag that her "estranged husband" had put in her child's backpack. When she removed it, it was replaced by another.
Also read:?Americans Are Using Apple AirTags To Track Their Loved Ones With Dementia: Report
The class-action lawsuit represents ¡°one of the most dangerous and frightening technologies employed by stalkers," ArsTechnica reported.
The complaint alleges that Apple's AirTags have "revolutionised" location-based stalking. Apple, on the other hand, claims that it works with law enforcement to trace AirTags back to the stalkers who owned them. Apple also plans to release "series of updates" before the end of 2022.
What do you think - are AirTags a safety hazard, especially for women? Let us know in the comments below.?For more in the world of?technology?and?science, keep reading?Indiatimes.com.?
References
Belanger, A. (2022, December 6). Stalkers¡¯ ¡°chilling¡± use of AirTags spurs class-action suit against Apple. Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/12/apple-airtags-are-now-the-weapon-of-choice-for-stalkers-lawsuit-says/
