Apple AirTags a 'perfect stalking tool' - BBC News

The intended use is both to find a device you have lost, but also stolen. If its is stolen, you essently stalking the criminal who took you're item. I think if you asked most criminal if its ok to be tracked they would all say no. The vast majority of people who use them are using them as intended. you can find the air tag thats tracking you, you can scan it and it tells you who owns the the Tag. Tracking and GPS devices have been around a long time. apple unlike the rest of them have put in a mecnisim to limit abuse.

Trying to portray this as an ‘Apple’ problem is quite wrong. There are many item trackers available like Samsungs Galaxy SmartTags, Tile and many other cheap products on Amazon. Focusing this on just Apple is quite misleading. I would say Apple has the most anti stalking technology in their AirTags than any other on the market, at least it informs you that your actually being tracked and how long you have been tracked for and allows you to make the item beep so you can disable it.

It's great that Apple made an app available for Android but what they neglect to tell you here is that it does not scan automatically for tracking items - you have to manually do it, which rather defeats the purpose

Spot on: anti-tracking is the new thing for everyone who are fed up being qualified, quantified & productised from cradle to grave. Keep pushing & the only way out is off the grid.

Anything made by humans can be used for malicious purposes if used by the wrong person

Long distance tracking via a small transmitter isn't a new concept or even recent technology. Many similar devices would have been almost if not just as accessible before Apple specifically made one. Perhaps a lot of criminals just didn't realise it, but that's more the fault of general ignorance than Apple specifically breaking some sort of new dangerous ground.

Let’s be honest there have been other gadgets that tracks the person movements for years. So I’m not surprised people are using AirTags as a tracking device on humans

Ask for their permission? How would it do that? Maybe the device itself holds information of its connected devices. That should help them work out who was tracking them.

The simple solution; Airtag is already linked to apple account and as intended for Anti-theft it should keep full name and phone number of the owner of its owner, any time law enforcement are informed they can find the tag by scanning the area and getting precise location whereas the normal app can just inform you if unidentified tag is following or not without details, police can get those details off it easily and track down the stalker that way without jeopardising the Anti-theft use at the same time. At the end of the day if police want to they can get into any phone already so it's not much to ask for for them to just do the same for unidentified StalkerTags. I mean once you know the apple account they can just see there phone location history and find the person who put the tag there.

It isn’t a perfect staling tool given that Apple can, through the devices MAC address, and the associated iCloud account, identify the hypothetical stalker. Not very perfect when you are easily detectable.

Imagine, you only get this stalker notification on iPhone's. Alot of the world don't even have iPhone's so how would those people know.

The alert is good to prevent crime but bad for recovering stolen items. Make it inaudible (which is not hard) and you get the same effects just the other way around.
Some people defend these things and point out their usefulness. If a tool is being used for crimes and it's not even good at doing its purpose (recovering stolen things) then they should stop making it.

Easy solution. If an Airtag is tracking you, have the Airtag report the owner and contact details. I mean if the real purpose is to track lost items that would be a bonus, too.

Trackers have been around for 20 years some for as little as £15, it’s not unique to AirTag. There relatively easy to find and easy smash 💥

Yeah, Apple, get caught up to the REAL world. These are NOT helpful if they can be tagged by ANYONE, or used by anyone, without a person's knowledge or consent; this is not only creepy, but downright illegal! Apple needs to take a serious look into this and NOT brush it off as a "consumer" issue, but a software or hardware problem. All 'smart tags' from ANY platform need to be remedied; this could cause real harm in the near future.
*#Apple** **#AirTags** **#Stalking*

Is it just me? The downside of such gadget is blatantly clear. That's why for many people, no Echo/Alexa, electronic tags....(admittedly hard to ditch the mobile phones, though, which do track location all the time)
And that's why tracking devices like Echo/Alexa are relatively low cost. Corporates want consumers' data.

The problem with this is - will Android owners be able to see AirTags? I bet Apple conveniently left that out (or unusable such that it's not worth using)
This is a marketing strategy to buy iPhones. Well done Apple.

Apple should allow the person being stalked to identify who is the owner of the device. The owner of the device has to set up an account, this information should show up on the phone of the person being stalked.

AirGuard is available for Android users; we won't typically get those notifications since this is really only an iOS feature. Apparently Apple are making an Android app though, so if this one (made by a university research team) is too sketchy for you, keep an eye out for Apple's version

Apple-Thats what it's for, that's literally all it does.

Classic case of technology where pros are few and the cons are staggering.

Ok: the apple air tag will worn you if someone is using it to track you. That is a good thing. A bigger question is that the only way Apple would know this is if Apple was also tracking you. What else is Apple doing with data.

Need to put one on those Amazon drivers that say they delivered my package already.

air tags should be usueful for things like BIKES and luggage but they have to also be SECURE

It needs to be able to sound an alarm, like when you look for your phone. How cannot be found?

I got one of these notifications the other day. Turned out that the device following me, though, was my AirPods, not an AirTag. Apparently, AirPods can set off this notification, which can be really creepy.

Isn’t there a dampening field you can create to stop tracking? Let’s hear about some counter technologies!

I saw a video of Edward Snowden here and he was telling that he changed his smartphone very often and he show how to get rid of the tracker. It's the first thing he does before leaving the store. You just have to do a research here and you'll find it.

If they are getting beeped its more likely they are tracked by one of their own devices.

Welcome to reality, snoozers! What did you think a coin size tracking device was for? LOL.

Each air tag needs to be tagged with the owners name and information. Including the imei number of the phone it was set up with.
It should be an easy update from Apple. They should be able to do this asap.

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Apple at its finest!!!

Yeah but it's soooo useful.. I don't want to give up my lost luggage finder.

It’s not like actual GPS tracking devices don’t exist already on Amazon etc. 😂

The same thing with apply pay - it literally shows the last location (THE FULL ADDRESS & LOCATION ON MAPS) you may have been (or still are) after paying

This isn’t apples fault and if anyone that knows how to code can make it so it won’t give the notification

‘Perfect stalking tool’ Not really.
I can think of an improvement, how bout don’t let the victim know they’re being stalked?

I remember once I was going to the supermarket, when I was less than a Block away notice a women few meters ahead of me did the same route but to my surpraise when I arrived she was there standing and asked me if I was following her?

Not a good stalking tool if it sends a notification to the victims phone

Imagine buying that🤔

Did people seriously forget how to remember where their personal belongings are? Jesus

Good job Tim Apple

0:30 - Dear Americans, on behalf of the UK, I wish to apologise for this presenter's pronunciation of 'Mississippi' 😞

Well that’s BS, tracking devices are around for a long time, this is just the first one that informs u.

You don't need an air tag when everyone post every 5 minutes where there at and what there doing

The fact that BBC can't get hold of Tim Cook regarding this matter is disturbing. BBC can get hold of prince Andrew but not Tim cook.

Who could possibly imagine this would happen

What's the legitimate use for these things? I've only seen dumb stories of people mailing parcels tracking them for fun, and these sort of stalking stories. I've yet to see a story when it helped solve a legit problem.

but let’s forget about Tile, because big corp scary Apple is the first company to make a GPS device

What’s to stop these stockers from stocking, this is creepy and good to be exposed to the public safety

That means it's working. Great product

What happens when your on the train with 10 people who have smart tags lol?

This is really gross and creepy just to be stalked like that they should ask permission before they do this

Well those stalkers are rather dumb. The air tag is directly linked and attached to an apple ID (and it acts basically like an ID) not only does it have their name, but also their phone number. (You can find out who the air tag belong to by taping it with your phone)

I’m pretty sure Apple at some realised that their air tag could easily be used for nefarious purposes… but hey, money … right?

How does the friendly device know that such a thing is happening to you ???? Thanks.

I feel bad for anyone tracking me: Wed 6th: 23 hours in bed, 1 hour return trips to fridge

You have had trackers for cars for years 🤷‍♀️

yeah so lets show all the stalkers online how to do it?! 😂

First of all who ask you to buy and bluetooth useally dosent work with in a specific range. thats mean it need to be around few meters of its operation.

All this attention on Apples AirTags is just fear mongering. People have been using traditional GPS trackers maliciously since their inception for a very long time all without offering any features to help those being tracked. Meanwhile Apples AIrTags support better safety features and only really work properly with iPhones are being targeted.

Air tags should reveal the owners name, address and phone number.

obviously this is bad but at least they all get notified that they were being stalked. you would probably never know about a regular tracker

The Android app doesn’t track live in the background. It’s woefully inadequate.

Can't it be proggrammed to turn of or turn the gps of, or a switch control on the owners phone or something

So many other devices that have been around for years that can do this?!!!

It’s funny to see all these Apple bots in the comments defending the product/company. Super smooth and not suspicious at all 😂

These devices must have unique Device ID which can help to find its owner. Who purchased it. Apple support should help in this case. Seems easy if that device is not purchased with wrong details or are not stolen device. Like take from some black market.
I guess it's apple product so they must identify device owner very easily.

i need this for my "cat"

at lest you can see someone is following you, but what about other social media? Who are tracking everything without any notification!

But other devices similar to this like Tile you had the same issue.

She is not concerned that her phone does the same thing and the stalker is the government….

I've been using trackers for years. I won't say what for.

How about usage to protect our vehicles from thieves

Yeah if they have your phone number they can track your device too. One guy used his girlfriends gps app to stalk her when she left him broke into the place she was staying and murdered her that way too.

That bald reporter looks exactly like a stalker who uses this thing 😂😂😂😂😂

States need to simply make it a federal crime to stock someone and all airtags are registered. So basically to find out who the airtag is registered to, they only have to hold apple accountable if they do not disclose the owner of account!

So if I have an android phone I have to download an app so that the tech devised by some foul company can't be used to stalk me? Great! That doesn't sound like dystopia at all!

The simple solution; Airtag is already linked to apple account and as intended for Anti-theft it should keep full name and phone number of the owner of its owner, any time law enforcement are informed they can find the tag by scanning the area and getting precise location whereas the normal app can just inform you if unidentified tag is following or not without details, police can get those details off it easily and track down the stalker that way without jeopardising the Anti-theft use at the same time. At the end of the day if police want to they can get into any phone already so it's not much to ask for for them to just do the same for unidentified StalkerTags. I mean once you know the apple account they can just see there phone location history and find the person who put the tag there.

Thanks for the idea BBC

Simple, make people purchasing air tags register the tags to their iCloud and provide identification either in the form of bank cards or passports etc. Once in use, the tag be traced back to either to the owner’s ID or iPhone with the assistance of Apple or the police.

Useful to track your cheating spouse lol

Correction..."whose to say that staff at Apple are not responsible for this incidents...these days there are strange people working in top Companies who have bizarre personality types and abnormal or antisocial behaviour.
Just goes to show it might be police officers, bush walkers, or anyone who gets off the thrill of being in control. Maybe someone with a Narcissist personality disorder.

Criminals could use this for anything. Even track law enforcement vehicles.
Very silly that is has a lack of security features.

I can just imagine sore divorces or breakups using this opportunity... ex wife/husband stalking you and seeing who you're dating or talking to.
The airtags should have a setting to reset when a particular distance (between the device and its tag) has been exceeded for a period of time. That way when airtags are sold on the 2nd hand market, the previous owner can't monitor anyone after a period of time.

They’re a bloody selfish company, you want them to be responsibility? Pay them! It’s all about extra-extra money they want.

You can always guarantee apple support will sell you another one.

it sounds like this is a bad way to stalk people... it beeps and tells them they are being stalked.. i did not know this was a thing, i want to get one for my keys and my wife's phone....NOT TO STALK HER .. she is always losing the phone

Not really apples fault if anything I praise apple for even thinking about werdios using it for stalking

I never carry technology that can track me.
Why would I?

Your phone is a airtag itself did u know?

why isnt this recalled or discontinued?

Cool, I have placed an order for one :).

It literally warns someone with an Apple device that they might be Followed, and then giving you a precise location on the device as well as how to take out the battery, tracking devices have been around for years Apple just made it easier but I’m surprised on the level of intelligence of those who are complaining because they are giving the answers but not understanding

Get a gun and a home security system, best we got rn 😂

So your iPhone is tracked by pigs when it’s on 😂

"IF you have an android, you can also download the app to detect it." Wow, I can already imagine crime syndicates using this on 3rd world countries where the majority of low-income people don't have apple products, but androids, or even china's low-cost brands. Hmm.... I should probably get one too and start stalking my high-school crush. I for sure knows she don't hv an iphone, ipad, or the sorts.

You can buy detectors and scanners for these devices and other bugs and different devices or you can hire a private investigator or security firm to find it, if you’re concerned or if one has been tracking you and cant find its exact location

The notification takes to long to pop up it should be on your phone in like 5 mins

BS. There has been trackers around for years. Apple Air tag is nothing special