Does Apple’s AirTag let stalkers track victims?
AirTags, which start at $29 and have a diameter of 1-1/4 inches (3.2 cm), are designed to be put into or attached to backpacks, wallets, keys, and other objects so that they can be found when they are misplaced.
Two women have filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc (AAPL.O) on the grounds that the company's AirTag devices have made it simpler for their ex-partners and other stalkers to locate their victims.
The ladies claimed that since the company released what it referred to as the "stalker proof" technology in April 2021, Apple has been unable to use AirTag to protect people from unwanted trafficking in a proposed class action filed on Monday in federal court in San Francisco.
AirTags, which start at $29 and have a diameter of 1-1/4 inches (3.2 cm), are designed to be put into or attached to backpacks, wallets, keys, and other objects so that they can be found when they are misplaced.
Some people utilize Airtags for nefarious or unlawful objectives, as per law enforcement officials and privacy experts.
According to the plaintiffs, AirTag has been connected to the murders of women from Indianapolis and Akron, Ohio, this year. They called it "the weapon of choice of stalkers and abusers."
Owners of iOS or Android-based devices in the United States who were tracked by AirTag or are "at risk" of being stalked as a result of Apple's alleged negligence are seeking unspecified damages in Monday's lawsuit.
The Cupertino, California-based business has admitted that "bad actors" have attempted to use Airtags improperly. This comes after Apple unmasked planned updates that would make it simpler to locate the devices and alert users more quickly if unidentified AirTags might be "traveling with them."
Lauren Hughes, one of the plaintiffs in the complaint filed on Monday, said her ex-boyfriend discovered her new location after putting an AirTag in her car's wheel well.
She claimed that he subsequently used the hashtag "#airt2.0" with a picture of a taco truck from her new area and a winking emoji.
The other plaintiff, Jane Doe, claimed that her estranged husband tracked her after placing an AirTag in their child's backpack.