Apple Sued for Alleged Involvement in AirTag-Related Crimes

Apple is currently confronted with a class action lawsuit concerning its AirTag tracking devices, which are alleged to have connections to criminal activities, including murder. Individuals assert that these compact trackers are being exploited by stalkers and wrongdoers to surreptitiously monitor their targets. The lawsuit contends that Apple has not taken sufficient measures to safeguard individuals from these perilous tracking practices.

Worry about delayed alerts

Apple’s defense is that AirTags are designed to prevent unwanted tracking. If someone slips an AirTag into your belongings, your iPhone should alert you with an “AirTag Found Moving With You” message, and the owner can see its location. If you can’t find the AirTag, it will make a sound to help you find it.

However, the lawsuit notes that the alert isn’t immediate, and AirTags won’t notify you if the owner is nearby, making it easy for stalkers to track someone’s movements. Although Apple has shortened the alert time, the lawsuit alleges that some people discover they were being followed hours or even days later.

Another issue highlighted in the lawsuit is that Android users do not have the same protections as iPhone users. Android devices do not receive these tracking alerts due to their different operating systems. Apple plans to bring this feature to Android, but it will take time.

Tragic consequences

The lawsuit alleges serious consequences, stating that “there have been several murders in which the killer used the AirTag to track the victim.” It also cites cases where individuals used AirTags to track and harm others in confrontations over stolen property.

One example of a lawsuit occurred in Akron, Ohio in January 2022, where an ex-boyfriend stalked and shot his ex-girlfriend by hiding an AirTag in her car. In another case in Indianapolis, a woman used an AirTag to track her boyfriend to a bar where he was killed in an argument.

Stalking is a widespread problem in the United States, affecting millions of people each year, especially young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. The lawsuit emphasizes that many cases go unreported to the police.

Apple has until October 27 to respond to the lawsuit. The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial and demanding that Apple change its practices in the design, manufacture and release of AirTags to prevent their misuse.